摘要 |
An optical TE-><-TM mode converter, using highly birefringent materials such as lithium niobate, is wavelength sensitive and, as such, can be used as a wavelength filter. However, to extract the filtered (i.e., the mode converted) signal, a separate, high quality polarization selective element is required. This application discloses means for eliminating the need for a separate polarization sensing element by using mode conversion as a means for spatially separating the filtered signal. The filter comprises a pair of mismatched waveguides (11, 12), and phase matching means (14, 15) for producing selective coupling between TE mode wave energy in one of the guides and TM mode wave energy on the other guide.
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