Ultrashort pulse polarization control in silicon waveguides

Abstract

The nonlinear polarization dynamics of ultrashort optical pulses propagating in a low birefringent silicon waveguide is theocratically and numerically studied, with a static electric field applied across the waveguide. It is shown that the pulse shape and polarization evolution can be efficiently controlled by adjusting the magnitude of the applied dc field. It is also demonstrated that the polarization instability regime can be achieved in such waveguides - despite the presence of strong linear losses - by appropriately engineering the spatial distribution of the control field along the waveguide. The simulations indicate that short silicon waveguides can serve as a viable platform for developing re-configurable all-optical and/or optically assisted electro-optic devices in the spectral range spanning from near- to mid-infrared.