A design for a nonreciprocal phase shifter

A design is described for a nonreciprocal phase shifter, which is the key element in the constitution of a Mach-Zehnder interferometric isolator consisting of a magneto-optical channel waveguide. A four-layered structure waveguide is dealt with in which a cover layer having a larger refractive index than that of the film is placed on the magneto-optic thin film; it is revealed that the phase shifter length can be shortened by up to 6 mm at the 1.15 m wavelength, which is half the length of a nonreciprocal phase shifter constructed of a three-layered waveguide without a large refractive index cover layer. Two types of channel waveguides are investigated: a rib waveguide and a strip-loaded waveguide; they are found to have the same phase shifter length for the optimum condition.