Broadband and low loss power splitter with polarization manipulation using subwavelength gratings

A broadband and low-loss power splitter with polarization manipulation using subwavelength gratings (SWGs) is proposed and analyzed, where SWGs are embedded in input taper/output inverse tapered waveguides in the bottom layer to form an SWG-based structure, and a silicon nitride layer is placed above the bottom layer to form a low-index guiding structure. In the bottom layer, the TE mode is cut off as the input strip waveguide is tapered down. In this way, the injected TE mode is evenly coupled to two adjacent output ports with high efficiency by the assistance of SWGs. By contrast, the input TM mode is well supported by the above silicon nitride layer and directly transmitted to the Through port, which is almost not influenced by the bottom structures. Consequently, both power splitting and polarization handling are achieved in the designed device simultaneously. Simulation results show that an extinction ratio (ER) of 32.63 dB (18.56 dB) and insertion loss (IL) of 0.16 dB (0.16 dB) for the TE (TM) mode are obtained at 1.55 µm. The bandwidth is up to 191 nm (1450–1641 nm) for the TE mode and 200 nm (1450–1650 nm) for the TM mode with an ER exceeding 15 dB and IL below 0.3 dB. Furthermore, fabrication tolerances and power distribution with polarization manipulation through the device are also presented.