Compact and low-loss TM-pass polarizer based on a hybrid plasmonic waveguide with a semiround arch Si core

Abstract

A compact and low loss TM-pass polarizer based on a hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPW) has been demonstrated. By introducing the hollow HPW with a semiround arch (SRA) Si core, the unwanted TE mode can be effectively cut off and the TM mode can pass through by hybrid plasmonic mode with excellent transmission characteristics. The hollow structure realizes lower index with n = 1 due to the air region, and the SRA construction effectively suppresses the energy loss of the TM mode caused by the corner effect. Thus, TM modes pass through with negligible loss and exhibit the characteristic of strong mode limitation. By optimizing the width of metal, the width of the HPW, and the length of the tapered mode converter, an optimum performance with a high polarization extinction ratio of 67.87 dB and a low insert loss of 0.029 dB at the work w a v e l e n g t h = 1550 n m is achieved. Detailed analysis also proves that the proposed polarizer has a compact size of only 7 µm and a great fabrication tolerance. This work offers a simple and effective scheme of polarization control on-chip.