Abstract: An optical circulator is a device that routes optical pulses from port to port in a predetermined manner, e.g. in a 3-port optical circulator, optical pulses entering port 1 are routed out of port 2, while optical pulses entering port 2 exit out of port 3 and optical pulses fed into port 3 exit out of port 3. Currently such an optical circulator is made of discrete components such as magnetooptic garnets, rare-earth magnets and optical polarizers that are packaged together with fiber optic elements. Disclosed herein is a different kind of optical circulator that is monolithically integrated on a single semiconductor substrate and that is applicable for the routing of optical pulses. The embodied invention will enable photonic integrated circuits to incorporate on-chip optical circulator functionality thereby allowing much more complex optical designs to be implemented monolithically.

Abstract: An optical circulator is a device that routes optical pulses from port to port in a predetermined manner, e.g. in a 3-port optical circulator, optical pulses entering port 1 are routed out of port 2, while optical pulses entering port 2 exit out of port 3 and optical pulses fed into port 3 exit out of port 3. Currently such an optical circulator is made of discrete components such as magnetooptic garnets, rare-earth magnets and optical polarizers that are packaged together with fiber optic elements. Disclosed herein is a different kind of optical circulator that is monolithically integrated on a single semiconductor substrate and that is applicable for the routing of optical pulses. The embodied invention will enable photonic integrated circuits to incorporate on-chip optical circulator functionality thereby allowing much more complex optical designs to be implemented monolithically.

Abstract: A non-reciprocal coupler isolator is provided including a first waveguide. The first waveguide includes a magnetic cladding cover layer magnetized transversely to a propagation direction of the first waveguide. A second waveguide is positioned adjacent to the first waveguide and separated by a gap. The second waveguide includes a non-magnetic cladding cover layer with a refractive index that matches a refractive index of the magnetic cladding cover layer of the first waveguide.

Abstract: A non-reciprocal coupler isolator is provided including a first waveguide. The first waveguide includes a magnetic cladding cover layer magnetized transversely to a propagation direction of the first waveguide. A second waveguide is positioned adjacent to the first waveguide and separated by a gap. The second waveguide includes a non-magnetic cladding cover layer with a refractive index that matches a refractive index of the magnetic cladding cover layer of the first waveguide.