TM-pass polarizer based on a photobleaching-induced waveguide in polymers

A polymer TM-pass polarizer is demonstrated by integrating photobleaching (PB) waveguides, which support only the TM mode, with mode-matched rib waveguides formed by reactive ion etching (RIE). The input and output rib guides support both TE and TM modes. The PB can be controlled to closely match the mode profile of the photobleached guide to the mode profile of the input and output rib waveguides in order to reduce the insertion loss. The polymer selected for photo-bleaching was PMMA-DRI. This electrooptic polymer has a PMMA backbone with the azo dye Disperse Red I side chain attached to the backbone.