Tunable polarization beam splitting based on a symmetrical metal-cladding waveguide structure.

Electrical tuning of polarization beam splitting is demonstrated in the structure of symmetrical metal-cladding waveguide by introducing optically nonlinear material into both the coupling prism and the guiding layer. Due to the anisotropy of the coupling material, different excitation conditions for TE and TM modes are obtained, which results in polarization-dependent reflections and transmissions. And the splitting effect of the two orthogonally polarized beams can be manipulated through an electrical modulation of the guiding layer properties.