Integrated acousto-optic polarization analyzer sensor
Résumé
Ion-exchange in glass substrate has long been an enabling technology for optical waveguides device manufacturing. Thus, in the last years, hybridization of ion-exchanged glass waveguides components has become a promising method for functional integration. In that context, we propose a Integrated acousto-optic Polarization Analyzer Sensor (IPAS) made by ion-exchange in a glass substrate. The IPAS consists in two Y-junctions that give three different outputs. The first one is simply one output waveguides of the first Y-junction. The two other outputs are the waveguides following the second Y-junction. A piezoelectric plate is placed over the entrance waveguide of the second Y-junction. It creates an artificial anisotropy when it is excited electrically. For each one of the three output signals, a polarizer is inserted between the waveguide's end and a photodetector. The IPAS is a compact hybrid realization insensitive to vibrations and easy to realize. It is capable to determine, with adequate signal processing, the polarization state of a light beam. Experimental results are obtained with a single buried straight waveguide made by low birefringence Ag+↔Na+ ion-exchange. The measured polarization state is compared with a commercial polarization analyzer.