Embodiments of the disclosure provide an optical polarizer with a varying vertical thickness, and methods to form the same. An optical polarizer according to the disclosure may include a first waveguide core over a semiconductor substrate. A first cladding material is on at least an upper surface of the first waveguide core. A second waveguide core over the first waveguide core and above the first cladding material. The second waveguide core includes a first segment having a vertical thickness that varies along a length of the first segment. A second cladding material is at least partially surrounding the second waveguide core. Transfer of one of a transverse electric (TE) mode signal and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode signal from the first waveguide core to the second waveguide core occurs between the first segment of the second waveguide core and the first waveguide core.

A three-dimensional photonic integrated structure includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate incorporates a first waveguide and the second semiconductor substrate incorporates a second waveguide. An intermediate region located between the two substrates is formed by a one dielectric layer. The second substrate further includes an optical coupler configured for receiving a light signal. The first substrate and dielectric layer form a reflective element located below and opposite the grating coupler in order to reflect at least one part of the light signal.

In an integrated polarization splitting and rotating photonic device comprising at least one first waveguide; a second waveguide, both said waveguides extending from an input section to an output section; a top cladding; a bottom cladding and a symmetry-breaking layer so as to form an optical guiding structure in a wafer chip, said top and bottom claddings extending throughout the whole optical guiding structure sandwiching said waveguides therebetween, said symmetry-breaking layer extends in the optical guiding structure at least over the whole guiding structure length, and, at the input section, the at least one first waveguide core has a predetermined width through the optical guiding structure to the output section, receiving an input light signal, and further, the second waveguide core, both at the input and the output section, has a width narrower than said predetermined width of the first waveguide core; so that the optical guiding structure guides a first mode substantially confined within said at least one first waveguide core and a second mode substantially confined within said second semiconductor waveguide core said first and said second modes having the same polarization at the output section.

A micro-ring resonator includes: at least one first straight waveguide; a second waveguide (Arm3) and a third waveguide (Arm2), where the second waveguide (Arm3) and the third waveguide (Arm2) form a closed annular waveguide, and the annular waveguide is coupled to the first waveguide; a fourth waveguide (Arm1), where the fourth waveguide (Arm1) is coupled to the annular waveguide; and a polarization splitter (PS), where one end of the polarization splitter (PS) is connected to the fourth waveguide (Arm1), and one end is connected to the second waveguide (Arm3) in the annular waveguide. In the micro-ring resonator, a distance between two waveguides for separately transmitting different polarized light breaks a limitation of a resonator radius, and further, a distance between a TE path and a TM path is reduced.

An integrated optical polarizer for generating linear polarizing light may be formed in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for applications that require stable output state of polarization. The integrated polarizer may be built by using the same materials already present in the PIC without use of other additional layers and claddings, and without other additional structural modification to the waveguide profile. The integrated polarizer comprises a plurality of bending waveguides of a pre-determined radius that are connected to each other in sequence. The bending waveguide has a high birefringence and a loose confinement to conduct one polarization mode and attenuate the other polarization mode. The polarization discrimination is controlled with the degree of the mode confinement, the bending radius, and the number of the bending waveguides that are connected in series.

A device includes a first mode converter and a second mode converter that define a region between the first mode converter and the second mode converter. The region can contain a plurality of orthogonal modes of a wave. The wave, when sent from outside the region and when propagating from the first mode converter towards the second mode converter, can include a first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes. The second mode converter can convert the wave from the first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes, to a second mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes that is different from the first mode. The first mode converter can convert the wave to the first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes.

Many embodiments in accordance with the invention are directed towards waveguides implementing birefringence control. In some embodiments, the waveguide includes a birefringent grating layer and a birefringence control layer. In further embodiments, the birefringence control layer is compact and efficient. Such structures can be utilized for various applications, including but not limited to: compensating for polarization related losses in holographic waveguides; providing three-dimensional LC director alignment in waveguides based on Bragg gratings; and spatially varying angular/spectral bandwidth for homogenizing the output from a waveguide. In some embodiments, a polarization-maintaining, wide-angle, and high-reflection waveguide cladding with polarization compensation is implemented for grating birefringence. In several embodiments, a thin polarization control layer is implemented for providing either quarter wave or half wave retardation.

Many embodiments in accordance with the invention are directed towards waveguides implementing birefringence control. In some embodiments, the waveguide includes a birefringent grating layer and a birefringence control layer. In further embodiments, the birefringence control layer is compact and efficient. Such structures can be utilized for various applications, including but not limited to: compensating for polarization related losses in holographic waveguides; providing three-dimensional LC director alignment in waveguides based on Bragg gratings; and spatially varying angular/spectral bandwidth for homogenizing the output from a waveguide. In some embodiments, a polarization-maintaining, wide-angle, and high-reflection waveguide cladding with polarization compensation is implemented for grating birefringence. In several embodiments, a thin polarization control layer is implemented for providing either quarter wave or half wave retardation.

A three-dimensional photonic integrated structure includes a first semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor substrate. The first substrate incorporates a first waveguide and the second semiconductor substrate incorporates a second waveguide. An intermediate region located between the two substrates is formed by a one dielectric layer. The second substrate further includes an optical coupler configured for receiving a light signal. The first substrate and dielectric layer form a reflective element located below and opposite the grating coupler in order to reflect at least one part of the light signal.

A silicon photonic device includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate, a waveguide, and a plate. The silicon-on-insulator substrate includes a silicon layer and a silicon dioxide layer. The waveguide is disposed on the silicon-on-insulator substrate. The silicon dioxide layer at least partially overlays the waveguide. The plate exhibits metallic characteristics and is at least partially embedded in the silicon dioxide layer of the silicon-on-insulator substrate. The plate is spaced apart from the waveguide and is configured to mitigate transverse magnetic emission propagating through the waveguide.