Experimental realization of an O-band compact polarization splitter and rotator

We experimentally realize a compact wideband polarization splitter and rotator (PSR) with CMOS compatibility. The fabricated PSR is then tested by utilizing a fabrication-tolerant TE-pass on-chip polarizer we propose to practically solve the issue of accurately aligning the polarizations in fiber and modes on chip. Both of these polarization handling devices take the advantage of bend structure that confines TE mode better than TM mode. The fabricated PSR has a high TM-TE and TE-TE mode conversion efficiency of -0.4 dB and -0.2 dB at 1310 nm, while the extinction ratio is better than 18 dB and the broad bandwidth exceeds 100 nm. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America