A novel Y-branch waveguide for power dividing and mode splitting

A novel Y-branch waveguide for variable-ratio power dividing and transverse electrical-transverse magnetic (TE-TM) mode splitting depending on the applied voltage is presented. The Y-branch waveguide is formed by two closely coupled waveguides tabricated by nickel indiffusion (NI) and by magnesium-oxide induced lithium outdiffusion (MILO) in a y-cut lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) substrate. The TE component of the randomly polarized light is tuned between these two waveguides, such that the device can be either a power divider or a mode splitter depending on the applied voltage. The measured TE mode extinction ratio is about 20 dB.