Integrated optical polarization manipulating device.

摘要

An integrated optical, polarization-manipulating device, comprises a first waveguiding section (A) with a first guide (21), a second waveguiding section (E) with a second and a third optically decoupled and physically separated guide (26, 27) and an intermediary waveguiding section (C) for an adiabatic coupling between the first and the second sections (A, B). The intermediary section (C) comprises a polarization-sensitive asymmetric Y-branching device, provided with two mutually diverging intermediary guides (24, 25), a monomodal (24) and a bimodal (25), coupled to the guides (26, 27), respectively, of the second section. The guides (21, 27) form, with dummy guides (22, 28), respectively, polarization-insensitive asymmetric Y-junctions which function as mode converters between zeroth- and first-order guided modes. Bimodal coupling sections (B, D) provide for adiabatic couplings between asymmetric Y-junctions and the intermediary section (C). Advantages: the device can be provided on non-birefringent materials; is relatively simple to manufacture; and, in the case of the ridge-type guide structure, only one etching step is required.