Nonlinear self-flipping of polarization states in asymmetric waveguides

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that asymmetric subwavelength waveguides can exhibit nonlinear polarization self-flipping at low power levels, enabling low-power optical switching and power limiting devices.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of nonlinear self-flipping polarization states in asymmetric waveguides and designs an optimized rib waveguide device for low-power optical switching.

Findings

Self-flipping polarization states occur at mW power levels.

The device can operate as an optical power limiter.

Switching properties are achieved at low powers.

Abstract

Waveguides of subwavelength dimensions with asymmetric geometries, such as rib waveguides, can display nonlinear polarization effects in which the nonlinear phase difference dominates the linear contribution, provided the birefringence is sufficiently small. We demonstrate that self-flipping polarization states can appear in such rib waveguides at low (mW) power levels. We describe an optical power limiting device with optimized rib waveguide parameters that can operate at low powers with switching properties.