Abstract

Polarisation dependence is a main issue in optical communication systems. One way to make components polarisation independent is the use of a X/2 plate inserted in the middle of a component, as has been demonstrated for phased-array demultiplexers [1]. This method can also be applied to InP-based demultiplexers and other components, but then the À/2 plates must be replaced with integrated converters [2,3,4]. In this paper we present experimental results on novel compact InP-based polarisation converters with high conversion values, employing waveguide bends with very small bending radii. These converters are easy to fabricate (only one single etch step is required) and are thus well suited for integration with other devices.

© 1996 Optical Society of America