Open AccessUltra-compact polarization rotation in integrated silicon photonics using digital metamaterials
Author(s) -
Apratim Majumder,
Bing Shen,
Randy Polson,
Rajesh Me
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.25.019721
Subject(s) - extinction ratio , optics , metamaterial , polarization (electrochemistry) , photonics , lithography , nanophotonics , materials science , optoelectronics , silicon photonics , photonic integrated circuit , polarization rotator , polarizer , beam splitter , physics , birefringence , wavelength , laser , chemistry
Polarization controlling devices such as polarization splitters and rotators are critical elements in integrated-photonic circuits that function via polarization-diversity schemes. Here, we present the design of an ultra-compact nanophotonic-polarization rotator (NPR) that rotates the polarization state from TE to TM with a simulated extinction ratio of 23dB over a coupling length of 5µm and an operating bandwidth of 40nm. This all-silicon device can be fabricated in a single lithography step and we have fabricated and characterized a preliminary device exhibiting 9dB extinction ratio. To emphasize the generality of our methodology, we also designed a NPR that can rotate the polarization state from TM to TE as well. A small device footprint is enabled by the evanescent coupling of guided modes enabled by computationally designed digital metamaterials.