Optimized design of multiport optical circulator

Abstract

This research proposes a practical multiport optical circulator design by using polarizing beam splitter cubes as spatial walk-off polarizers. The use of Porro prisms for directing light requires fewer components and improves space-efficiency. Therefore, a high performance device can be produced at a reduced cost. A six-port optical circulator prototype was fabricated to show the feasibility of the proposed design. The insertion losses range between 0.52 and 1.05dB, the isolations range between 26.20 and 45.13dB, and the return losses are 27.72dB. The benefits of this design's simple and symmetrical structure include cost-efficiency, simple fabrication processes, polarization-independence, the resolve of polarization-mode dispersion issues, and high performance. Additionally, the number of ports can be increased easily.