Unidirectional magnetooptic polarization converters

Inclination of the bias magnetization in a magnetooptic waveguide yields bo th nonreciprocal phase shifts and polarization conversion. This enables the design of unidirectional polarization converters, i.e., waveguides that sw itch between orthogonal polarizations for one direction of light propagatio n, but keep the polarization state for light propagating in the opposite di rection. Simulations of double layer raised strip waveguides show that thes e constraints can be met with properly adjusted geometries. The results lea d to the proposal of a polarization independent integrated optical circulat or based on two unidirectional polarization converters between a front and a back polarization splitter.