Abstract
A simple planar light-wave circuit-based switchable ${{\rm{LP}}_{11{\rm a}}} {-} {{\rm{LP}}_{11{\rm b}}}$ mode rotator for reconfigurable mode division multiplexing is proposed, which consists of a polymer waveguide and an electrode heater located on the waveguide. Because of the asymmetric refractive index distribution in the horizontal and vertical directions, induced by the thermo-optic effect, mode rotation between the ${{\rm{LP}}_{11{\rm a}}}$ and ${{\rm{LP}}_{11{\rm b}}}$ modes can be achieved when the heater is ON but there can be no mode rotation when the heater is OFF. Numerical simulations show that our well-designed mode rotator with optical polymer materials, which has a length of 2750 µm, can achieve a mode conversion efficiency (MCE) larger than 84% over the entire ${\rm{C}} + {\rm{L}}$ band (1530–1610 nm) and a maximum MCE of 96% at 1550 nm. The switching electric power is 161.5 mW. The calculated temperature within the waveguide core is from 186°C (close to the heater) to 86°C (away from the heater).
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