A silicon-on-insulator polarization diversity scheme in the mid-infrared.

We propose a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) polarization diversity scheme in the mid-infrared wavelength range. In consideration of absorption loss in silicon dioxide (SiO₂), the polarization splitter-rotator (PSR) is designed and optimized with silicon nitride (SiN) upper-cladding and SiO₂ lower-cladding. This asymmetry allows the PSR, which consists of mode-conversion tapers and subsequent mode-sorting asymmetric Y-junctions, to be fabricated with a simple one-step etching process. Simulation shows that our PSR has good performance with low mode conversion loss (< 0.25 dB) and low crosstalk (< -18 dB) in a very large wavelength range from 4.0 μm to 4.4 μm. The PSR also exhibits large fabrication tolerance with respect to the size deviations in waveguide width, height and refractive index of the upper-cladding. Additionally, PSR devices based on Y-junctions with SiO₂ upper-cladding, and SiN upper- and lower-claddings are designed for potential applications at shorter and longer wavelengths, respectively. These PSR devices could facilitate the development of silicon photonic devices in the mid-infrared.