Silicon-on-insulator polarization splitter using two horizontally slotted waveguides

We propose and analyze a short-length silicon-on-insulator polarization splitter using two horizontally slotted silicon waveguides. A polarization splitter with a 46.7 mu m length and a 22 dB extinction ratio (ER) is achieved. Around 1550 nm, it also exhibits an 18 nm bandwidth for ER >20 dB. The effects of the slot thickness, the waveguide spacing, and the refractive index of the slot on the splitting length and ER are investigated. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America