Title :
Polarization sensitivity of a silica waveguide thermooptic phase shifter for planar lightwave circuits
Author :
Inoue, Yasuyuki ; Katoh, Katsumi ; Kawachi, Masao
Author_Institution :
NTT Opto-electron. Lab., Ibaraki, Japan
Abstract :
A thermooptic (TO) phase shifter, which consists of a thin-film heater loaded on a silica-based single-mode waveguide on a Si substrate, was found to exhibit a sli1h,t polarization dependence of about 3.1% between the TE and TM modes. This dependence, which is caused by anisotropic stress concentration due to local heating, was successfully reduced by forming stress-releasing grooves on either side of the heater.<>
Keywords :
integrated optics; light polarisation; optical switches; optical waveguides; silicon compounds; thermo-optical effects; Si substrate; SiO/sub 2/-Si; TE modes; TM modes; anisotropic stress concentration; local heating; planar lightwave circuits; polarisation sensitivity; silica waveguide thermooptic phase shifter; single-mode waveguide; stress-releasing grooves; thermooptic switch; thin-film heater; Optical films; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical polarization; Optical sensors; Optical waveguides; Phase shifters; Planar waveguides; Silicon compounds; Switches;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
