Integrated optical polarizer

Details Integrated optical polarizer Integrated optical polarizer

1998-07-08

2001-01-02

Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2872)

Optical waveguides

Polarization without modulation

C385S014000, C385S029000, C385S131000, C385S132000

Utility Patent

active

06169825

ABSTRACT:

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Great Britain application No. GB9718346.1, entitled “INTEGRATED OPTICAL POLARIZER” filed Aug. 30, 1997. The disclosures of the referenced application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an integrated optical polarizer for a silicon rib waveguide.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Integrated optical circuits often require the light transmitted therein to be polarized. This can be achieved using a separate polarizer, e.g. in the form of an optical fibre, connected to the chip carrying the optical circuit. It would, however, be preferable for the polarizer to be integrated on the chip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an integrated optical polarizer formed on a silicon rib waveguide having an upper face and two side faces, the polarizer comprising a section of the silicon rib waveguide having a buffer layer and a light absorbing layer on either the upper face of the rib or at least one side face of the rib, the buffer layer having a refractive index such that light traveling along the waveguide and incident upon the respective face of the rib waveguide passes into the buffer layer and then into the light absorbing layer whereby either the (TM) transverse magnetic or (TE) transverse electric mode of the light traveling along the waveguide is attenuated.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a polarizer on a silicon rib waveguide having an upper face and two side faces in which a buffer layer is provided on the upper face or at least one of the side faces of a section of the rib, and a light absorbing layer provided on the buffer layer, the buffer layer having a refractive index such that light traveling along the waveguide and incident upon the respective face of the rib waveguide passes into the buffer layer and then into the light absorbing layer whereby either the TM or TE mode of the light traveling along the waveguide is attenuated.
Preferred and optional features of the invention will be apparent from the detailed disclosure of the specification.


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Saini, Sharma and Singh; Strong Effect of Output Coupling on the Performance of Metal-Clad Waveguide Polarizers; Optics Letters; Feb. 15,1995, pp. 365-367.
Schmidtchen, Splett, Schuppert and Peterman; Low Loss Singlemode Optical Waveguides with Large Cross-Section in Silicon-On-Insulator, Electronics Letters; 1991, pp. 1486-1488.

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