Abstract: A polarization independent, frequency selective coupler for coupling an optical signal having at least one wavelength and an arbitrary polarization state, the polarization independent, frequency selective optical coupler comprising: a first waveguide; and at least one second waveguide, a first portion of the at least one second waveguide being in close proximity to the first waveguide thus forming at least one evanescent coupling region, the at least one evanescent coupling region exhibiting a first phase match condition coupling the TM mode of an optical signal propagating in the first waveguide to the at least one second waveguide and a second phase match condition coupling the TE mode of the optical signal propagating in the first waveguide to the at least one second waveguide, the first phase match condition being different than the second phase match condition.