SUPPRESSION OF MODAL BIREFRINGENCE IN INP-INGAASP WAVE-GUIDES THROUGHUSE OF COMPENSATED TENSILE STRAIN

We show that the modal birefringence of InP-based planar guides can be significantly reduced through the action of compensated tensile strai n, By using low bandgap tensile and higher bandgap compressive layers, the material birefringence of the former may be made to dominate and provide significant modal birefringence suppression, The suppression a ttained is much greater than can be achieved through the application o f tensile strain alone.