Polarization Conversion by Transformation of the TM0–TE1 Modes in an Ion-Exchange Glass Waveguide

Abstract

The mode structure of a four-layer optical waveguide consisting of an ion-exchanged channel waveguide in glass coated with a highly refractive nanoscale dielectric film has been studied. It has been found that varying the geometric dimensions of the film changes the polarization states of the second and third waveguide modes: the TM₀ mode is transformed into the TE₁ mode, and the TE₁ mode becomes the TM₀ mode. Based on this, a new method of designing a waveguide polarization converter has been proposed and experimentally confirmed.