Polarization beam splitter based on photonic crystal self-collimation Mach–Zehnder interferometer

A polarization beam splitter based on a self-collimation Mach–Zehnder interferometer (SMZI) in a hole-type silicon photonic crystal was proposed and numerically demonstrated. Utilizing polarization dependence of the transmission spectra of the SMZI and polarization peak matching (PPM) method, the SMZI can work as a polarization beam splitter (PBS) by selecting appropriate path length difference in the structure. Because of its intrinsic operating principle, the PBS possesses high polarization extinction ratios (PERs). As its dimensions are only several operating wavelengths, the PBS may have practical applications in photonic integrated circuits.