High-performance TM-pass polarizer based on anti-symmetric Bragg gratings

Abstract

We present an all-silicon transverse-magnetic-pass (TM-pass) polarizer based on anti-symmetric Bragg gratings. We obtain wide operation bandwidth and high polarization extinction ratio (PER) by maximizing the coupling between the forward TE0 mode and the backward TE1 mode through the reduction of the bridge element width. In the meantime, low insertion loss (IL) is acquired with long tapered structures and the exclusion of the center grating part. Experimental results indicate IL below 0.74 dB and PER over 40 dB covering the wavelength ranges of 1275–1360 nm and 1500–1523 nm, while the average IL within these ranges is as low as 0.27 dB. Additionally, simulation results suggest that the performance can be further improved by introducing chirp in the period of Bragg gratings, thus achieving IL < 0.11 dB and PER > 60 dB over a wide range of 280 nm (1290–1570 nm).