High isolation optical switch, isolator or circulator having thin film polarizing beam splitters

摘要

An optical device for controlling the flow of light between ports includes a pair of polarizing devices (50,51), which employ frustrated total internal reflection and interference in a thin film coating (33) to reflect p-polarized light and to transmit s-polarized light. Polarization-rotating devices are used to rotate the polarization plane of the s- and p-polarized light beams so as to create optical switches, isolators and circulators using these polarizing devices.