Components For Polarization Control Research Articles

All‐Dielectric Toroidal Metasurfaces for Angular‐Dependent Resonant Polarization Beam Splitting

AbstractAn all‐dielectric metasurface exhibiting a strong toroidal resonance is theoretically designed and experimentally demonstrated as an angular‐dependent resonant polarization beam‐splitter in the microwave K‐band. The metasurface is fabricated by embedding a square periodic array of high‐permittivity ceramic cuboid resonators in a 3D‐printed substrate of polylactic acid. It is demonstrated that by properly selecting the resonator geometry and by tuning the angle of incidence through mechanical rotation, the metasurface can switch between a polarization beam splitting and bandpass or bandstop operation. Such performance is achieved by exploiting the highly asymmetric Fano spectral profile of the toroidal resonance and the very low (high) dispersion of the associated p‐(s‐) polarized mode resulting from the resonant toroidal dipole mode's field profile, as evidenced by both full‐wave and band structure simulations. Theoretically infinite extinction ratios are achievable for polarization beam splitting operation with very low insertion losses and adjustable bandwidth. The experimental demonstration of such a compact, all‐dielectric metasurface expands the research portfolio of resonant metasurfaces toward not only the investigation of the intriguing physics of toroidal modes but also to the engineering of functional millimeter‐wave components for polarization control, for instance, in the context of 5G wireless communication networks.

Multi-functional polarization conversion manipulation via graphene-based metasurface reflectors

In this work, we present an efficient polarization conversion device via using a hollow graphene metasurface. The platform can simultaneously realize a series of excellent performances, including the broadband x-to-y cross polarization conversion (CPC) function with near unity polarization conversion ratio (PCR), dual-frequency linear-to-circular polarization conversion (LTC-PC) function, and highly sensitive polarization conversion function manipulation under wide oblique incidence angle range. For instance, the proposed device obtains an x-to-y CPC function with the bandwidth up to 1.83 THz (χPCR ≥98.8%). Moreover, the x-to-y CPC function can be switched to LTC-PC function via artificially tuning the Fermi energy of graphene. The maximal frequency shift sensitivity (S) of polarization conversion function reaches 23.09 THz/eV, suggesting a frequency shift of 2.309 THz for the LTC-PC function when the chemical potential is changed by 0.1 eV. Based on these superior performances, the polarization converter can hold potential applications in integrated and compact devices, such as polarization sensor, switches and other optical polarization control components.

Photonic crystal based polarization insensitive flat lens

The paper proposes a new design of an inhomogeneous artificially created photonic crystal lens structure consisting of annular dielectric rods to efficiently focus both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations of light into the same focal point. The locations of each individual cell that contains the annular dielectric rods are determined according to a nonlinear distribution function. The inner and outer radii of the annular photonic dielectric rods are optimized with respect to the polarization insensitive frequency response of the transmission spectrum of the lens structure. The physical background of the polarization insensitive focusing mechanism is investigated in both spatial and frequency domains. Moreover, polarization independent wavefront transformation/focusing has been explored in detail by investigating the dispersion relation of the structure. Corresponding phase index distribution of the lens is attained for polarization insensitive normalized frequency range of a/λ = 0.280 and a/λ = 0.300, where a denotes the lattice constant of the designed structure and λ denotes the wavelength of the incident light. We show the wave transformation performance and focal point movement dynamics for both polarizations of the lens structure by specially adjusting the length of the structure. The 3D finite-difference time domain numerical analysis is also performed to verifiy that the proposed design is able to focus the wave regardless of polarization into approximately the same focal point (difference between focal distances of both polarizations stays below 0.25λ) with an operating bandwidth of 4.30% between 1476 nm and 1541 nm at telecom wavelengths. The main superiorities of the proposed lens structure are being all dielectric and compact, and having flat front and back surfaces, rendering the proposed lens design more practical in the photonic integration process in various applications such as optical switch, attenuators and couplers, where the polarization insensitive focusing without any additional polarization control components plays an important role.

Polarization-independent Enhanced-resolution Arrayed-waveguide Grating used in Spectral-domain Optical Low-coherence Reflectometry

The performance of an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) as an integrated spectrometer in spectral-domain optical low-coherence reflectometry (SD-OLCR) is significantly improved. By removing the output waveguides of the AWG, the depth range is enhanced from 1 to 3.3 mm at 800 nm and 4.6 mm at 1300 nm. Periodic signal fading, that was previously observed in the sensitivity roll-off curve in depth ranging measurements, is shown to be evoked by beat-frequency generation between the two polarizations of partially polarized signal light in a birefringent AWG. By carefully controlling the polarization state-of-light, the signal fading is eliminated. As a permanent solution to this problem, a polarization-independent AWG is demonstrated, which can reduce the size and cost of OCLR and optical coherence tomography systems further by eliminating the components for polarization control.

Production scale deposition of multilayer film structures for birefringent optical components

Many modern optical systems require polarization control of light in addition to spectral control. Light modulation applications include displays, optical data storage, digital imaging, metrology, instrumentation, optical communications and others. Within the information display sector, liquid crystal displays with polarization control components are prevalent. These components are often close to an image plane and thus have stringent defect requirements. Use of these components to control contrast and modulation drives the requirement of uniformity and part-to-part consistency. In a birefringent material the interaction of light with matter depends on the polarization state and orientation of the material. Bulk materials like quartz possess crystalline structures and hence exhibit molecular birefringence. Liquid crystal materials, stretched foils, and obliquely deposited columnar films are examples of engineered materials that have a microstructure or molecular orientation that creates birefringence. But even a stack of thin isotropic layers has birefringent properties when illuminated at non-normal incidence angle. We discuss two deposition technologies which JDSU has scaled into volume production. The first is based on liquid crystal polymers and the second on vacuum multilayer thin-film deposition. Production scale deposition requires high throughput, high uniformity, batch-to-batch reproducibility, and low defect capability. Both processes are standardized on 200 mm wafers, which allows for modular manufacturing within the same work cell and clean room. The two technologies are used together to create specifically tailored birefringent optics. Independent control of in-plane and out-of-plane retardance is enabled. Excellent layer thickness control, knowledge of the optical properties, and suitable metrology enable JDSU to adjust processes to address various customer needs in a rapid manner.

Fiber-based single-channel polarization-sensitive spectral interferometry

We present a novel, to our knowledge, fiber-based single-channel polarization-sensitive spectral interferometry system that provides depth-resolved measurement of polarization transformations of light reflected from a sample. Algebraic expressions for the Stokes parameters at the output of the interferometer are derived for light reflected from a birefringent sample by using the cross-spectral density function. By insertion of a fiber-optic spectral polarimetry instrument into the detection path of a common-path spectral interferometer, the full set of Stokes parameters of light reflected from a sample can be obtained with a single optical frequency scan. The methodology requires neither polarization-control components nor prior knowledge of the polarization state of light incident on the sample. The fiber-based single-channel polarization-sensitive spectral interferometer and analysis are demonstrated by measurement of phase retardation and fast-axis angle of a birefringent mica plate.

Single-polarization generation in fiber Fabry-Perot laser by self-injection locking in short feedback cavity

Single-frequency and single-polarization lasing can be generated in a compact self-injection locked fiber Fabry-Perot laser with a short fiber Bragg grating feedback cavity. No discrete polarization control components are required. Different wavelengths actress the laser gain bandwidth can be generated by an appropriate combination of cavity designs and feedback fiber Bragg gratings. A 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero transmission test demonstrates the laser's applicability for optical fiber communications.

Spectroscopic polarimetry with a channeled spectrum

We describe a novel method for the spectroscopic measurement of the state of polarization (SOP) of light. A pair of thick birefringent retarders is incorporated into the spectroscopic polarimeter, so the generated channeled spectrum is composed of three quasi-cosinusoidal components carrying the information about the SOP of the light that is being measured. Fourier inversion of the channeled spectrum provides significant parameters for determination of the spectrally resolved Stokes parameters of light. No mechanically movable components for polarization control or active devices for polarization modulation are used, and all the Stokes parameters can be determined at once from only the single spectrum. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by the generation of elliptically polarized light whose SOP varies with wave number.

Optical Heterodyne Polarimeter for Studying Space-and Time-dependent State of Polarization of Light

Abstract This paper describes an optical heterodyne polarimeter with a photodetector array by which the space- and time-dependent state of polarization (SOP) of light can be determined. Since no optical components for polarization control are used, the time response of the polarimeter is free from such components, but is basically limited to the frequency bandwidth of the photodetector array used. The signal and local oscillator beams are coherently photomixed to generate a beat photocurrent at every pixel of the photodetector array. The orthogonal linearly polarized two-frequency components of the local oscillator beam are superimposed with their respective counterpart orthogonally decomposed components of the elliptically polarized signal beam. The generated beat-photocurrent offers the significant physical parameters required for the determination of the space- and time-dependent SOP. The performance principle of the polarimeter is explained and confirmed experimentally.