Realization of a compact and single-mode optical passive polarization converter

A single-section, compact, passive polarization converter has been designed and fabricated on GaAs-AlGaAs. The device uses an optimized waveguide structure with angled-facets to obtain 90/spl deg/-polarization rotation in a single section; this waveguide structure eliminates the need for longitudinal variation and hence avoids any section-to-section coupling losses. A transverse electric (TE) to transverse magnetic (TM) polarization conversion of 96% is achieved for a conversion length of /spl ap/720 μm.