Analysis of the TE-pass or TM-pass metal-clad polarizer with a resonant buffer layer

A metal-clad optical polarizer with a resonant buffer layer has been investigated by the finite-element method in this paper. Important waveguide design parameters, such as the refractive index, thickness, interaction length, fabrication tolerance, and band-stop characteristics, have been analyzed in detail. Mode coupling within the polarizer and the losses due to coupling between the polarizer and the input and output waveguides are considered using the normal mode analysis. The loss behaviors of TE and TM modes are explained and the roles of the resonant buffer layer are interpreted. By using ultralow index layers, TMo resonance, as well as its phase-matching conditions and excellent performance, has also been presented and discussed for this structure for the first time. Simulations show that high performance can be achieved in a wide range of the cladding thicknesses (>= 2 mu m) and interaction length for both TE-pass and TM-pass polarizers. With optimized parameters under 3-mm length, it is possible to obtain a broadband TE-pass polarizer with an extinction ratio of more than 40 dB and insertion loss below 0.2 dB over 200 nm, and a TM-pass polarizer with an extinction ratio of more than 30 dB and insertion loss below 0.4 dB over 28 nm.