Mode control in integrated optical devices via photoinduced birefringence

Photoinduced birefringence is proposed as a tool for mode-control applications in integrated optical devices such as waveguides, fibers, etc. Various geometries of photoexposure are theoretically considered for the example of a planar waveguide. Analytical solutions are obtained that provide information about the resulting polarizational behavior of the guide. The presence of birefringent Bragg gratings is then considered and conditions are identified to obtain polarization-insensitive spectral filters.