We present the implementation of a novel wavelength independent polarization splitter on a silicon-on-insulator platform. The waveguide splitter is based on a zero-order arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) configuration. The splitting function is realized by employing cladding stress-induced birefringence. The device demonstrated a TE to TM splitting ratio better than $-15\mathrm{dB}$ over a $20\mathrm{nm}$ tuning range centered around $\lambda =1550\mathrm{nm}$ and better than $-10\mathrm{dB}$ over our entire accessible wavelength range from $\lambda =1465\mathrm{nm}$ to $1580\mathrm{nm}$ . The highest splitting extinction ratio achieved was $-20\mathrm{dB}$ . To our knowledge, this is the first reported passive broadband polarization splitter based on AWG.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

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Appl. Opt.

• L. L. Soares and L. Cascato, Appl. Opt. 40, 5906 (2001). [CrossRef]

Electron. Lett.

• Y.-P. Liao, R.-C. Lu, C.-H. Yang, and W.-S. Wang, Electron. Lett. 32, 1003 (1996). [CrossRef]

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett.

• J. M. Hong, H. H. Ryu, S. R. Park, J. W. Jeong, S. G. Lee, E.-H. Lee, S.-G. Park, D. Woo, S. Kim, and B.-H. O, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 15, 72 (2003). [CrossRef]
• I. Kiyat, A. Aydinli, and N. Dagli, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 17, 10 (2005). [CrossRef]
• L. B. Soldano, A. H. de Vreede, M. K. Smit, B. H. Verbeek, E. G. Metaal, and F. H. Groen, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 6, 402 (1994). [CrossRef]
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• L. Zhang and C. Yang, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16, 1670 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Lightwave Technol.

• A. R. Vellekoop and M. K. Smit, J. Lightwave Technol. 8, 118 (1990). [CrossRef]
• W. N. Ye, D.-X. Xu, S. Janz, P. Cheben, M.-J. Picard, B. Lamontagne, and N. G. Tarr, J. Lightwave Technol. 23, 1308 (2005). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

• D.-X. Xu, P. Cheben, D. Dalacu, A. Delâge, S. Janz, B. Lamontagne, M. Picard, and W. N. Ye, Opt. Lett. 29, 2384 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• W. N. Ye, D.-X. Xu, S. Janz, P. Waldron, and N. G. Tarr, in Proceedings of IEEE Group IV Photonics'06 (IEEE, 2006), p. 249.

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