Abstract
With the great developments in optical communication technology and large-scale optical integration technology, it is imperative to realize the traditional functions of polarization processing on an integration platform. Most of the existing polarization devices, such as polarization multiplexers/demultiplexers, polarization controllers, polarization analyzers, etc., perform only a single function. Definitely, integrating all these polarization functions on a chip will increase function flexibility and integration density and also cut the cost. In this article, we demonstrate an all-in-one chip-scale polarization processor based on a linear optical network. The polarization functions can be configured by tuning the array of phase shifters on the chip. We demonstrate multiple polarization processing functions, including those of a multiple-input-multiple-output polarization descrambler, polarization controller, and polarization analyzer, which are the basic building blocks of polarization processing. More functions can be realized by using an additional two-dimensional output grating. A numerical gradient descent algorithm is employed to self-configure and self-optimize these functions. Our demonstration suggests great potential for chip-scale, reconfigurable, and fully programmable photonic polarization processors with the artificial intelligence algorithm.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 2257–2267 |
Journal | Nanophotonics |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Nov 2019 |
Keywords
- multiple-input-multiple-output
- polarization processor
- silicon photonics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering