Chip-scale, full-Stokes polarimeter.

Zhongjin Lin,Wei Shi,Leslie Rusch,Yuxuan Chen

doi:10.1364/oe.27.004867

Abstract

The polarization of light conveys unique information that can be exploited by crucial applications. The bulky and costly discrete optical components used in conventional polarimeters limit their broad adoption. A compact, low-cost polarimeter would bring this functionality into a myriad of new scenarios and revolutionize its exploitation. Here we present a high-performance, full-Stokes polarimeter on a silicon chip. A surface polarization splitter and on-chip optical interferometer circuit produce the complete analysis matrix of an optimally conditioned polarimeter. A matrix analysis on measurement errors is also performed. This solid-state polarimeter is a system-on-a-chip with exceptional compactness, stability, and speed that could be used singly or in integrated arrays. Large arrays can increase the speed and resolution of full-Stokes imaging; therefore, our design provides a scalable polarimeter solution.

Highlights

Characterization of the state of polarization (SoP) of light is crucial for many important applications
The experimental and simulation results are shown in Fig. 8 when inputting x-polarized light. ηx and ηy are the efficiency of light coupled into x-directional and y-directional waveguides, respectively
The demonstration of a silicon full-Stokes polarimeter paves the way to polarimetry sensor systems on a chip for a vast number of applications

Summary

Introduction

Characterization of the state of polarization (SoP) of light is crucial for many important applications. Et al, used the spin-orbit interaction of light to demonstrate the use of sub-wavelength scattering on silicon for local observation of SoP [7] They used the careful manipulation of a metallic nanoparticle or supplemental polarization filtering for their SoP characterization, the accuracy of their polarimeter has yet to be established with either method. A silicon photonic Stokes vector receiver has been demonstrated for high-speed optical communications [16] It uses a nanotaper on the edge of a chip to collect light from a fiber; on-chip components such as beam splitters, polarization rotators, and optical hybrids are used for polarization decomposition and phase readouts. The proposed chip-scale polarimeter is based on the standard 220-nm-thick silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with a 2 μm buried oxide layer and 2-μm oxide cladding

Structure and principle

Design of SPS

Full-etch SPS

Results and discussion

Conclusion