Photonic Lattice, Inc.

Keio University

Sophia School Corporation

Toshikazu Ijiro

Shojiro Kawakami

Takayuki Kawashima

Takafumi Chiba

Hiroshi Takahashi

Hiroyuki Tsuda

An optical element has a quarter-wave plate formed on the X-Y plane and laminated in the Z-axis direction in three-dimensional space X, Y, Z. The groove in the wave plate is curved, and the angle relative to the Y-axis varies continuously in the range of 0&#xb0; to 180&#xb0;. The optical element separates and converts incoming circularly polarized light into light passing therethrough and circularly polarized light reversely rotating a given angle toward the X axis from the Z axis, and outputs the light.

Optical element and optical circuit

To provide a volume-type optical element in which a self-cloning photonic crystal is used. An optical element is provided with half-wave plates of photonic crystals formed on the xy plane and laminated in the z-axis direction in a three-dimensional space x, y, z. The groove direction of the photonic crystals is a curved line, and the angle in relation to the y-axis direction changes continuously in the range of 0&#xb0;-180&#xb0;. Light entering the optical element in the axial direction is emitted from the optical element upon being divided and converted into clockwise circularly polarized light in the direction facing the x-axis by a given angle from the z-axis and anticlockwise circularly polarized light in the direction facing the &#x2212;x-axis by a given angle from the z-axis. Laminating or placing a quarter-wave plate comprising a photonic crystal on one or both surfaces makes it possible to divide light entering from the z-axis direction of the optical element into two orthogonal linearly polarized lights.

Optical element

Growing community of inventors

Sendai, Japan

Toshikazu Ijiro