Observation of spectral and temporal polarization oscillations of optical pulses in a silicon nanowaveguide

摘要

We observe both spectral and temporal oscillations in the polarization state of optical pulses propagating through a silicon nanowaveguide. The spectral oscillations are linear in nature and result from polarization-mode dispersion (PMD). The temporal oscillations are nonlinear in nature, and theoretical simulations clarify that they result from the combined effects of two-photon absorption generated free carriers and PMD.