Wavelength insensitive passive polarization converter fabricated by poled polymer waveguides

Abstract

A passive TE to TM polarization mode converter is fabricated by using poled polymer waveguides. The optic axis of the poling induced waveguide is slowly rotated 90° by using a slowly varying structure of poling electrodes. Thus the polarization conversion is achieved as the guided mode propagates through the waveguide. TE to TM mode conversion is observed with a polarization extinction ratio higher than 30 dB, and the excess loss is less than 1 dB. The polarization conversion is relatively insensitive to wavelength since the device contains no periodic structures. These devices are easier to fabricate than others containing periodic structures.