Integrated-optic polarization controllers incorporating polymer waveguide birefringence modulators

Opt Express. 2012 May 21;20(11):12443-8. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.012443.

Abstract

Polarization controllers based on polymer waveguide technology are demonstrated by incorporating thermo-optic birefringence modulators (BMs) and thin-film wave plates. Highly birefringent polymer materials are used to increase the efficiency of birefringence modulation in proportion to the heating power. Thin-film quarter-wave plates are fabricated by using a crosslinkable liquid crystal, reactive mesogen, and inserted between the BMs to produce static phase retardation and polarization coupling. By applying a triangular AC signal to one BM and a DC signal to another, the polarization states of the output light are modulated to cover the entire surface of the Poincaré sphere.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Birefringence
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Systems Integration
  • Telecommunications / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Polymers