International Business Machines Corporation

Rahul Asthana

Robert Dennis Miller

James M Zavislan

Glenn T Sincerbox

Franklin M Schellenberg

An improved apparatus and method for detecting the polarization state of an optical wavefront is disclosed, which is especially suitable for use in an integrated magneto-optic recording head. An optically transparent waveguide structure transmits TE and TM modes of the wavefront propagated as a beam coupled into the waveguide by a TE/TM grating coupler. In the waveguide structure is a periodic structure comprising a birefringent mode separator that splits the propagating beam into TE and TM modes. The mode separator comprises an array of uniformly spaced volumes of identical configuration. Photosensitive devices detect the intensity of the light contained within each of the separated beams. The signals from these photosensitive devices are used to determine the state of polarization of the optical wavefront. The periodic structure may, if desired, comprise regions of alternating birefringence, such as a Bragg grating, either in a waveguide layer or a cladding layer. Focal power is introduced (1) by providing focal power in the input grating coupler to the waveguide with a curved grating structure, (2) by varying the pitch of the birefringent mode separator extending in a direction transverse to the optical axis of the propagating beam, or (3) by introducing a surface grating with a varying pitch in a direction transverse of the optical axis.

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Wilmington, CA, United States of America

Rahul Asthana