A novel nano-optics polarization beam splitter/combiner for telecom applications

A new polarization beam splitter/combiner is realized as a one dimensional metal grating structure with periods less than the wavelength; one polarization paralleled to the gratings will be reflected while the orthogonal polarization will be transmitted. We fabricate metal-stripe gratings on glass substrate using E-beam. nanolithography technique and reactive ion etching process. A detail investigation of the polarization effect at 1550nm wavelength is carried out with theory analyze and experimental results. The polarization beam splitter has uniform performance with wide variations in the angle of incidence and has low insertion loss, high polarization extinction ratios both the reflected and the transmitted beams.