Ti:LiNbO_3 polarization splitters using an asymmetric branching waveguide

Polarization splitters that use an asymmetric branching waveguide and can be fabricated along the Z axis as well as the X axis of LiNbO(3) are proposed and demonstrated. In these devices, two polarization states are converted to two different spatial modes, and these modes are split by the asymmetric branching waveguide. The extinction ratios of the two polarization splitters are shown to be less than -12 dB.