Polarization rotator-splitters in standard active silicon photonics platforms

• Published in: Optics express Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 3777 - 3786
• Main Authors: Sacher, Wesley D, Barwicz, Tymon, Taylor, Benjamin J F, Poon, Joyce K S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 24.02.2014
• ISSN: 1094-4087; 1094-4087
• DOI: 10.1364/oe.22.003777

We demonstrate various silicon-on-insulator polarization management structures based on a polarization rotator-splitter that uses a bi-level taper TM0-TE1 mode converter. The designs are fully compatible with standard active silicon photonics platforms with no new levels required and were implemented in the IME baseline and IME-OpSIS silicon photonics processes. We demonstrate a polarization rotator-splitter with polarization crosstalk < -13 dB over a bandwidth of 50 nm. Then, we improve the crosstalk to < -22 dB over a bandwidth of 80 nm by integrating the polarization rotator-splitter with directional coupler polarization filters. Finally, we demonstrate a polarization controller by integrating the polarization rotator-splitters with directional couplers, thermal tuners, and PIN diode phase shifters.