Ultra-broadband spin-controlled directional router based on single optical catenary integrated on silicon waveguide

摘要

Traditional waveguide directional couplers based on coherent interferences of multiple elements suffer from a narrow operation band. Furthermore, most of them only operate for a specific linear polarization and cannot fulfill the bidirectional sorting function. In this study, using the spin-orbit interaction of a single optical catenary on an integrated silicon waveguide, we demonstrated an ultra-broadband directional bidirectional router for circular polarization, with an extinction ratio higher than 15 dB in the wavelength range of 1,450 to 1,600 nm and a peak value of 25 dB at 1,550 nm. By reversing the spin of incidence, the light flow can be routed to the opposite direction. (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics