Configurable TE- and TM-Pass Graphene Oxide-Coated Waveguide Polarizer

Abstract

A configurable optical waveguide polarizer using graphene oxide (GO) as a polarizing element has been demonstrated. The propagation characteristics of the GO-coated optical waveguide are changed from TM-pass to TE-pass by controlling the GO coating thickness in the sub-micron range during the deposition process. The highest extinction ratio measured for a TM-pass waveguide polarizer is 34.9 dB, using a coating length and thickness of 1.0 mm and 0.34 μm respectively, while the highest extinction ratio measured for a TE-pass polarizer is 46.0 dB, using a coating length and thickness of 1.0 mm and 0.71 μm respectively. The polarization extinction ratio has also been measured across the wavelength range from 1520 nm to 1620 nm - and a variation of less than 3.0 dB was obtained. Control of the coating thickness dependent characteristics of the GO-coated waveguides provides an avenue for tailoring of the polarization selection. Show more