INTEGRATED MULTISTACK WAVE-GUIDE POLARIZER

Waveguide polarizers based on embedded thin metallic stacks are propos ed. Highly efficient TM polarization is obtained for metal thicknesses smaller than the optical skin depth. The optimal single-metal-layer w aveguide is found to yield an extinction ratio better than 12.2 dB/mm and a linear loss below 0.075 dB/mm. Experimental confirmation for thi s structure is also obtained in polymeric waveguides. Polarization eff iciencies better than 100 dB/mm with linear losses below 2 dB/mm are c alculated for multi-stack waveguides. This high performance is found t o hold even if oxidation at metal-core boundaries is considered.