All-organic switching polarizer based on polymer waveguides and liquid crystals

Manuel Caño-García; Ahmed Elmogi; Marie-Aline Mattelin; Jeroen Missinne; Morten A. Geday; José M. Otón; Geert Van Steenberge; Xabier Quintana

doi:10.1364/OE.26.009584

All-organic switching polarizer based on polymer waveguides and liquid crystals

Manuel Caño-García, Ahmed Elmogi, Marie-Aline Mattelin, Jeroen Missinne, Morten A. Geday, José M. Otón, Geert Van Steenberge, and Xabier Quintana

Optics Express
Vol. 26,
Issue 8,
pp. 9584-9594
(2018)
•https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.009584

Get Citation
Copy Citation Text
Manuel Caño-García, Ahmed Elmogi, Marie-Aline Mattelin, Jeroen Missinne, Morten A. Geday, José M. Otón, Geert Van Steenberge, and Xabier Quintana, "All-organic switching polarizer based on polymer waveguides and liquid crystals," Opt. Express 26, 9584-9594 (2018)

Export Citation
- BibTex
- Endnote (RIS)
- HTML
- Plain Text
Get PDF (5652 KB)
Set citation alerts
Save article

Related Topics
Table of Contents Category
- Integrated Optics
Optics & Photonics Topics
?

The topics in this list come from the OSA Optics and Photonics Topics applied to this article.
Previously assigned OCIS codes
- Optoelectronics (130.0250)
- Optical switching devices (130.4815)
- Polarization-selective devices (130.5440)
- Polymer waveguides (130.5460)

About this Article
History
- Original Manuscript: February 1, 2018
- Revised Manuscript: March 8, 2018
- Manuscript Accepted: March 9, 2018
- Published: April 3, 2018

Accessible

Open Access

Abstract

This paper reports on the design, fabrication and characterization of an all-organic photonic integrated circuit working as a switching polarizer for visible light (630nm), combining organic waveguides and liquid crystals that can be electrically driven. The device was made in commercially available epoxy by laser direct writing lithography. A device with a 2dB loss and a 20dB extinction ratio for both polarizations, was simulated; the manufactured devices proved the working principle of the design. The results have led to the design of a switching polarization splitter, in which a careful choice of waveguide material and liquid crystal can lead to devices working on a wide range of wavelengths.

Full Article | PDF Article

OSA Recommended Articles

Integrated liquid-crystal switch for both TE and TM modes: proposal and design

Qian Wang and Gerald Farrell
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 24(10) 3303-3308 (2007)

Integration of a photonic crystal polarization beam splitter and waveguide bend

Wanhua Zheng, Mingxin Xing, Gang Ren, Steven G. Johnson, Wenjun Zhou, Wei Chen, and Lianghui Chen
Opt. Express 17(10) 8657-8668 (2009)

Graphene-based polymer waveguide polarizer

Jin Tae Kim and Choon-Gi Choi
Opt. Express 20(4) 3556-3562 (2012)

References

View by:
Article Order
|
Year
|
Author
|
Publication

T. Su, R. P. Scott, C. Ogden, S. T. Thurman, R. L. Kendrick, A. Duncan, R. Yu, and S. Yoo, “Experimental demonstration of interferometric imaging using photonic integrated circuits,” Opt. Express 25, 12653–12665 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
S. Feng, C. Qin, K. Shang, S. Pathak, W. Lai, B. Guan, M. Clements, T. Su, G. Liu, H. Lu, R.P. Scott, and S.J. Ben Yoo, “Rapidly reconfigurable high-fidelity optical arbitrary waveform generation in heterogeneous photonic integrated circuits,” Opt. Express 25, 8872–8885 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
L. Chang, M. H. Pfeiffer, N. Volet, M. Zervas, J. D. Peters, C. L. Manganelli, E. J. Stanton, Y. Li, T. J. Kippenberg, and J. E. Bowers, “Heterogeneous integration of lithium niobate and silicon nitride waveguides for wafer-scale photonic integrated circuits on silicon,” Opt. Lett. 42, 803–806 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
D. Liang and J. Bowers, “Photonic integration: Si or InP substrates?” Electron. Lett. 45, 578–581 (2009).
[Crossref]
L. A. Coldren, S. C. Nicholes, L. Johansson, S. Ristic, R. S. Guzzon, E. J. Norberg, and U. Krishnamachari, “High performance InP-based photonic ICs - A tutorial,” J. Lightwave Technol. 29, 554–570 (2011).
[Crossref]
Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]
R. Dangel, J. Hofrichter, F. Horst, D. Jubin, A. La Porta, N. Meier, I. M. Soganci, J. Weiss, and B. J. Offrein, “Polymer waveguides for electro-optical integration in data centers and high-performance computers,” Opt. Express 23, 4736–4750 (2015).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
A. La Porta, R. Dangel, D. Jubin, N. Meier, F. Horst, and B. J. Offrein, “Scalable and broadband silicon photonics chip to fiber optical interface using polymer waveguides,” in Proceedings of the IEEE Optical Interconnects Conference (IEEE, 2017) pp. 13–14.
S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]
S. Chandrasekhar, Liquid crystals, 2nd. ed. (Cambridge University Press, 1992).
[Crossref]
J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]
D. Taillaert, H. Chong, P. I. Borel, L. H. Frandsen, R. M. De La Rue, and R. Baets, “A compact two-dimensional grating coupler used as a polarization splitter,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 15, 1249–1251 (2003).
[Crossref]
T. M. Leslie and R. G. Lindquist, “Liquid crystal planar non-blocking nxn cross-connect,” (2003). US Patent6,559,921.
J. Leuthold, C. Koos, W. Freude, L. Alloatti, R. Palmer, D. Korn, J. Pfeifle, M. Lauermann, R. Dinu, S. Wehrli, M. Jazbinsek, P. Günter, M. Waldow, T. Wahlbrink, J. Bolten, H. Kurz, M. Fournier, J. M. Fedeli, H. Yu, and W. Bogaerts, “Silicon-organic hybrid electro-optical devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 19, 114–126 (2013).
[Crossref]
R. Ding, T. Baehr-Jones, Y. Liu, R. Bojko, J. Witzens, S. Huang, J. Luo, S. Benight, P. Sullivan, J. Fedeli, M. Fournier, L. Dalton, A. Jen, and M. Hochberg, “Demonstration of a low Vπ L modulator with GHz bandwidth based on electro-optic polymer-clad silicon slot waveguides,” Opt. Express 18, 15618–15623 (2010).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
C.-T. Wang, Y.-C. Li, J.-H. Yu, C. Y. Wang, C.-W. Tseng, H.-C. Jau, Y.-J. Chen, and T.-H. Lin, “Electrically tunable high Q-factor micro-ring resonator based on blue phase liquid crystal cladding,” Opt. Express 22, 17776–17781 (2014).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
Y. Xing, T. Ako, J. P. George, D. Korn, H. Yu, P. Verheyen, M. Pantouvaki, G. Lepage, P. Absil, A. Ruocco, C. Koos, J. Leuthold, K. Neyts, J. Beeckman, and W. Bogaerts, “Digitally controlled phase shifter using an SOI slot waveguide with liquid crystal infiltration,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 27, 1269–1272 (2015).
[Crossref]
A. Elmogi, E. Bosman, J. Missinne, and G. Van Steenberge, “Comparison of epoxy-and siloxane-based single-mode optical waveguides defined by direct-write lithography,” Opt. Mater. 52, 26–31 (2016).
[Crossref]
E. Hecht, Optics2nd edition, (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1987)
P. Cheben, D.X. Xu, S. Janz, and A. Densmore, “Subwavelength waveguide grating for mode conversion and light coupling in integrated optics,” Opt. Express 14, 4695–4702 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
K. Kaur, A. Subramanian, P. Cardile, R. Verplancke, J. Van Kerrebrouck, S. Spiga, R. Meyer, J. Bauwelinck, R. Baets, and G. Van Steenberge, “Flip-chip assembly of vcsels to silicon grating couplers via laser fabricated SU8 prisms,” Opt. Express 23, 28264–28270 (2015).
[Crossref] [PubMed]
D. Cuypers, Vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal microdisplays for projection applications, (Ph.D. thesis, Ghent University2005).
E. Otón Martínez, Adaptive liquid-crystal phase-only passive devices, (Ph.D. thesis, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicacion (UPM)2013).

2017 (4)

T. Su, R. P. Scott, C. Ogden, S. T. Thurman, R. L. Kendrick, A. Duncan, R. Yu, and S. Yoo, “Experimental demonstration of interferometric imaging using photonic integrated circuits,” Opt. Express 25, 12653–12665 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

S. Feng, C. Qin, K. Shang, S. Pathak, W. Lai, B. Guan, M. Clements, T. Su, G. Liu, H. Lu, R.P. Scott, and S.J. Ben Yoo, “Rapidly reconfigurable high-fidelity optical arbitrary waveform generation in heterogeneous photonic integrated circuits,” Opt. Express 25, 8872–8885 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

L. Chang, M. H. Pfeiffer, N. Volet, M. Zervas, J. D. Peters, C. L. Manganelli, E. J. Stanton, Y. Li, T. J. Kippenberg, and J. E. Bowers, “Heterogeneous integration of lithium niobate and silicon nitride waveguides for wafer-scale photonic integrated circuits on silicon,” Opt. Lett. 42, 803–806 (2017).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]

2016 (1)

A. Elmogi, E. Bosman, J. Missinne, and G. Van Steenberge, “Comparison of epoxy-and siloxane-based single-mode optical waveguides defined by direct-write lithography,” Opt. Mater. 52, 26–31 (2016).
[Crossref]

2015 (3)

Y. Xing, T. Ako, J. P. George, D. Korn, H. Yu, P. Verheyen, M. Pantouvaki, G. Lepage, P. Absil, A. Ruocco, C. Koos, J. Leuthold, K. Neyts, J. Beeckman, and W. Bogaerts, “Digitally controlled phase shifter using an SOI slot waveguide with liquid crystal infiltration,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 27, 1269–1272 (2015).
[Crossref]

R. Dangel, J. Hofrichter, F. Horst, D. Jubin, A. La Porta, N. Meier, I. M. Soganci, J. Weiss, and B. J. Offrein, “Polymer waveguides for electro-optical integration in data centers and high-performance computers,” Opt. Express 23, 4736–4750 (2015).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

K. Kaur, A. Subramanian, P. Cardile, R. Verplancke, J. Van Kerrebrouck, S. Spiga, R. Meyer, J. Bauwelinck, R. Baets, and G. Van Steenberge, “Flip-chip assembly of vcsels to silicon grating couplers via laser fabricated SU8 prisms,” Opt. Express 23, 28264–28270 (2015).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2014 (1)

C.-T. Wang, Y.-C. Li, J.-H. Yu, C. Y. Wang, C.-W. Tseng, H.-C. Jau, Y.-J. Chen, and T.-H. Lin, “Electrically tunable high Q-factor micro-ring resonator based on blue phase liquid crystal cladding,” Opt. Express 22, 17776–17781 (2014).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2013 (1)

J. Leuthold, C. Koos, W. Freude, L. Alloatti, R. Palmer, D. Korn, J. Pfeifle, M. Lauermann, R. Dinu, S. Wehrli, M. Jazbinsek, P. Günter, M. Waldow, T. Wahlbrink, J. Bolten, H. Kurz, M. Fournier, J. M. Fedeli, H. Yu, and W. Bogaerts, “Silicon-organic hybrid electro-optical devices,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 19, 114–126 (2013).
[Crossref]

2011 (1)

L. A. Coldren, S. C. Nicholes, L. Johansson, S. Ristic, R. S. Guzzon, E. J. Norberg, and U. Krishnamachari, “High performance InP-based photonic ICs - A tutorial,” J. Lightwave Technol. 29, 554–570 (2011).
[Crossref]

2010 (1)

R. Ding, T. Baehr-Jones, Y. Liu, R. Bojko, J. Witzens, S. Huang, J. Luo, S. Benight, P. Sullivan, J. Fedeli, M. Fournier, L. Dalton, A. Jen, and M. Hochberg, “Demonstration of a low Vπ L modulator with GHz bandwidth based on electro-optic polymer-clad silicon slot waveguides,” Opt. Express 18, 15618–15623 (2010).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2009 (2)

Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]

D. Liang and J. Bowers, “Photonic integration: Si or InP substrates?” Electron. Lett. 45, 578–581 (2009).
[Crossref]

2006 (1)

P. Cheben, D.X. Xu, S. Janz, and A. Densmore, “Subwavelength waveguide grating for mode conversion and light coupling in integrated optics,” Opt. Express 14, 4695–4702 (2006).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2003 (1)

D. Taillaert, H. Chong, P. I. Borel, L. H. Frandsen, R. M. De La Rue, and R. Baets, “A compact two-dimensional grating coupler used as a polarization splitter,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 15, 1249–1251 (2003).
[Crossref]

1977 (1)

J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]

Absil, P.

Ako, T.

Alloatti, L.

Baehr-Jones, T.

Baets, R.

Bauwelinck, J.

Beeckman, J.

Ben Yoo, S.J.

Benight, S.

Bogaerts, W.

Bojko, R.

Bolten, J.

Borel, P. I.

Bosman, E.

Bowers, J.

D. Liang and J. Bowers, “Photonic integration: Si or InP substrates?” Electron. Lett. 45, 578–581 (2009).
[Crossref]

Bowers, J. E.

Cardile, P.

Chandrasekhar, S.

S. Chandrasekhar, Liquid crystals, 2nd. ed. (Cambridge University Press, 1992).
[Crossref]

Chang, L.

Cheben, P.

Chen, Y.-J.

Chong, H.

Clements, M.

Coldren, L. A.

Cuypers, D.

D. Cuypers, Vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal microdisplays for projection applications, (Ph.D. thesis, Ghent University2005).

Dai, D.

Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]

Dalton, L.

Dangel, R.

A. La Porta, R. Dangel, D. Jubin, N. Meier, F. Horst, and B. J. Offrein, “Scalable and broadband silicon photonics chip to fiber optical interface using polymer waveguides,” in Proceedings of the IEEE Optical Interconnects Conference (IEEE, 2017) pp. 13–14.

De La Rue, R. M.

Densmore, A.

Ding, R.

Dinu, R.

Duncan, A.

Elmogi, A.

Fedeli, J.

Fedeli, J. M.

Feng, S.

Fournier, M.

Frandsen, L. H.

Freude, W.

George, J. P.

Guan, B.

Günter, P.

Guzzon, R. S.

He, S.

Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]

Hecht, E.

E. Hecht, Optics2nd edition, (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1987)

Hochberg, M.

Hofrichter, J.

Horst, F.

Hu, C.

J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]

Huang, S.

Janz, S.

Jau, H.-C.

Jazbinsek, M.

Jen, A.

Johansson, L.

Jubin, D.

Kaur, K.

Kendrick, R. L.

Kippenberg, T. J.

Knauer, S.

S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]

Koos, C.

Korn, D.

Krishnamachari, U.

Kurz, H.

Kwon, Y.

J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]

Lai, W.

Lauermann, M.

Lepage, G.

Leslie, T. M.

T. M. Leslie and R. G. Lindquist, “Liquid crystal planar non-blocking nxn cross-connect,” (2003). US Patent6,559,921.

Leuthold, J.

Li, Y.

Li, Y.-C.

Liang, D.

D. Liang and J. Bowers, “Photonic integration: Si or InP substrates?” Electron. Lett. 45, 578–581 (2009).
[Crossref]

Lin, T.-H.

Lindquist, R. G.

T. M. Leslie and R. G. Lindquist, “Liquid crystal planar non-blocking nxn cross-connect,” (2003). US Patent6,559,921.

Liu, G.

Liu, Y.

López-García, M.

S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]

Lu, H.

Luo, J.

Manganelli, C. L.

Meier, N.

Meyer, R.

Missinne, J.

Neyts, K.

Nicholes, S. C.

Norberg, E. J.

Offrein, B. J.

Ogden, C.

Otón Martínez, E.

E. Otón Martínez, Adaptive liquid-crystal phase-only passive devices, (Ph.D. thesis, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicacion (UPM)2013).

Palmer, R.

Pantouvaki, M.

Pathak, S.

Peters, J. D.

Pfeiffer, M. H.

Pfeifle, J.

Porta, A. La

Qin, C.

Rarity, J. G.

S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]

Ristic, S.

Ruocco, A.

Scott, R. P.

Scott, R.P.

Shang, K.

Sheng, Z.

Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]

Soganci, I. M.

Spiga, S.

Stanton, E. J.

Su, T.

Subramanian, A.

Sullivan, P.

Taillaert, D.

Thurman, S. T.

Tseng, C.-W.

Van Kerrebrouck, J.

Van Steenberge, G.

Verheyen, P.

Verplancke, R.

Volet, N.

Wahlbrink, T.

Waldow, M.

Wang, C. Y.

Wang, C.-T.

Wehrli, S.

Weiss, J.

Whinnery, J.

J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]

Witzens, J.

Xing, Y.

Xu, D.X.

Yoo, S.

Yu, H.

Yu, J.-H.

Yu, R.

Zervas, M.

Electron. Lett. (1)

D. Liang and J. Bowers, “Photonic integration: Si or InP substrates?” Electron. Lett. 45, 578–581 (2009).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron. (1)

J. Whinnery, C. Hu, and Y. Kwon, “Liquid-crystal waveguides for integrated optics,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 13, 262–267 (1977).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. (2)

Z. Sheng, D. Dai, and S. He, “Comparative study of losses in ultrasharp silicon-on-insulator nanowire bends,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 15, 1406–1412 (2009).
[Crossref]

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. (2)

J. Lightwave Technol. (1)

J. Opt. (1)

S. Knauer, M. López-García, and J. G. Rarity, “Structured polymer waveguides on distributed bragg reflector coupling to solid state emitter,” J. Opt. 19, 065203 (2017).
[Crossref]

Opt. Express (7)

Opt. Lett. (1)

Opt. Mater. (1)

Other (6)

E. Hecht, Optics2nd edition, (Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1987)

S. Chandrasekhar, Liquid crystals, 2nd. ed. (Cambridge University Press, 1992).
[Crossref]

D. Cuypers, Vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal microdisplays for projection applications, (Ph.D. thesis, Ghent University2005).

E. Otón Martínez, Adaptive liquid-crystal phase-only passive devices, (Ph.D. thesis, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicacion (UPM)2013).

T. M. Leslie and R. G. Lindquist, “Liquid crystal planar non-blocking nxn cross-connect,” (2003). US Patent6,559,921.

Cited By

OSA participates in Crossref's Cited-By Linking service. Citing articles from OSA journals and other participating publishers are listed here.

Alert me when this article is cited.

Click here to see a list of articles that cite this paper

Fig. 1 Sketch of the switching polarizer highlighting the two possible switching states of the LC intersection. The LC-filled trench forms an angle α=30° with the waveguides.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 2 The displacement of a light beam in a plane-parallel slab.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 3 Simulated displacement and reflection produced by the plane-parallel slab as a function of trench angle α. Blue dashed line: displacement (d). Green dotted line: the TM polarized light losses (Γ_TM). Red continuous line: the TE polarized light losses (Γ_TE).

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 4 (a) Scheme of the simulated device with approximate aspect ratio. Various simulations were performed, all with a fixed slab height (h) of 20 µm, trench angle α of 30°, waveguides of 3×3 µm. Separation of the waveguides was varied from 3 to 7 µm; (b) Simulation of the total power and TE, TM field distributions in the central waveguide section for switched and unswitched device with 5 µm waveguide separation. Note that the aspect ratio is not preserved in the simulation images.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 5 Analytically calculated displacement and reflection produced by the plane-parallel slab as a function of n_LC.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 6 The basic structure of the developed devices. The input and output ports are indicated.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 7 Steps to fabricate the waveguides.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 8 a) SEM image of the a waveguide without cladding; b) optical microscope image of a trench with LC between crossed polarizers. c) optical microscope image of the empty trench. d) optical microscope image of the cross section of a trench.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 9 TM/TE intensities at the output port for the two different LC switching states. The measured values allowed for an estimation of the effective refractive indices,

n_{e f f_{T M}}

and

n_{e f f_{T E}}

, for the on and the off switching states. These derived values were used in in the calculation of the simulated transmission curves. The measured intensities are relative to the power transmitted in a straight waveguide.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 10 Simulation of the designed wide wavelength switchable optical polarization splitter. The total power and TE, TM field distributions in the central waveguide section for switched and unswitched device with 6 µm waveguide seperation. The trench size was 20 µm and the LC refractive indeces varies between n_o=1.58 and n_e=1.78.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig. 11 The fundamental design of a switching polarization splitter using the MDA-98-1602. In this case neither of the two output ports can be aligned with the input port since n_o < n_wg.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Tables (1)

Table 1 Optimized process parameters for the waveguides fabrication.

View Table

Equations (4)

Equations on this page are rendered with MathJax. Learn more.

d = h \frac{\sin (θ_{w g} - θ_{L C})}{\cos (θ_{L C})}; θ_{L C} = \sin^{- 1} (\frac{n_{w g}}{n_{L C}} \sin (θ_{w g}))

R_{T M} {| \frac{n_{w g} \cos (θ_{w g}) - n_{L C} \cos (θ_{L C})}{n_{w g} \cos (θ_{w g}) + n_{L C} \cos (θ_{L C})} |}^{2}; Γ_{T M} = 1 - {(1 - R_{T M})}^{2}

R_{T E} {| \frac{n_{w g} \cos (θ_{L C}) - n_{L C} \cos (θ_{w g})}{n_{w g} \cos (θ_{L C}) + n_{L C} \cos (θ_{w g})} |}^{2}; Γ_{T E} = 1 - {(1 - R_{T E})}^{2}

n_{e f f}^{2} (θ) = \frac{n_{e}^{2} n_{o}^{2}}{n_{o}^{2} \sin^{2} θ + n_{e}^{2} \cos^{2} θ}

Process Step	Epoclad 50	Epocore 2
Spin coating	5000 rpm 1′	1900 rpm 30”
Soft bake	5′@50°, 5′@90°, 10′@120°	5′@50°, 5′@90°, 10′@120°
UV exposure	1′@10mW/cm²	DWL @ 334mJ/cm²
Post exposure bake	15′@90°	2′@50°,4′@90°
Wet development	–	45” in mr-Dev600, 1′ rinse IPA
Hard bake	90′@120° in oven	90′@120° in oven