Integrated-optic polarization controllers based on polymer waveguide

摘要

Polarization controllers are demonstrated by integrated polymer waveguide technology. The integrated-optic polarization controllers consist of three birefringence modulators and 45°-inclined quarter-wave plates inserted between them. The birefringence modulator by incorporating highly birefringent polymer material exhibits the difference in phase retardation for TE and TM guided modes in proportion to the heating power. Thin-film quarter-wave plates are fabricated by using a reactive mesogen, and inserted between the birefringence modulators to produce static phase retardation and polarization coupling. By applying a triangular AC signal to one birefringence modulator and a DC signal to another, general polarization conversion covering the entire surface of the Poincare sphere is demonstrated.