Dual-core leaky optical waveguide as an integrated-optic polarizer

Abstract

We present a design of a dual-core leaky waveguide that can be used as an integrated-optic polarizer. The proposed polarizer works on the principle of mode filtering. The structure is characterized by two cores, namely core-1 and core-2 and a high index layer in the upper-most region, such a structure supports leaky modes. The leakage losses of the modes have been calculated by using the transfer matrix method (TMM). Single polarization operation is ensured by high differential leakage loss between fundamental TE and TM modes. We show TE-pass operation with 0.5 dB/mm loss in TE 0 mode and 13 dB/mm loss in TM 0 mode, and TM-pass operation with 0.36 dB/mm loss in TM 0 mode and 7.45 dB/mm loss in TE 0 mode. Besides single-polarization operation, single-mode operation of the structure is ensured by high leakage loss of all the other higher-order modes. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.