A very short vertical directional coupler with polarization-insensitive high extinction ratios

Abstract

We propose a very short vertical directional coupler with polarization-insensitive high extinction ratios. The structure of the coupler has two deep-ridge waveguide structures in the upper and lower parts which can be implemented using a double-sided wafer process. The coupling length and extinction ratios of the vertical directional coupler with symmetric structures decrease as the thicknesses of the inner cladding layer and core layer decrease. The extinction ratio is improved using a slight asymmetry in the refractive indices of two core layers. As the thicknesses of the inner cladding layer and core layer decrease, the length of the vertical directional coupler for extinction ratios greater than 30 dB of both TE and TM modes decreases. A vertical directional coupler with a very short length less than 100 mu m and polarization-insensitive high extinction ratios greater than 30 dB can be implemented using the structure proposed in this paper. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.