Analytical model for waveguide light propagation and applications

TL;DR

This paper introduces an analytical model for elliptical femtosecond-laser-written waveguides that explains polarization-dependent mode asymmetry and coupling, enabling control over light propagation and applications in integrated optical circuits.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel analytical model for waveguide polarization properties, linking waveguide geometry to polarization-dependent coupling and light distribution control.

Findings

Asymmetry in mode profiles causes polarization-dependent coupling.

Model enables tuning of light intensity distribution in waveguide arrays.

Application to integrated polarizing beam splitters.

Abstract

We study the polarization properties of elliptical femtosecond-laser-written waveguides arrays. A new analytical model is presented to explain the asymmetry of the spatial transverse profiles of linearly polarized modes in these waveguides. This asymmetry produces a polarization dependent coupling coefficient, between adjacent waveguides, which strongly affects the propagation of light in a lattice. Our analysis explains how this effect can be exploited to tune the final intensity distribution of light propagated through the array, and links the properties of a polarizing beam splitter in integrated optical circuits to the geometry of the waveguides.