Abstract
The mode rotator is an important component in a PLC-based mode-division multiplexing (MDM) system, which is used to implement high-order modes with vertical intensity peaks, such as LP(11b) mode conversions from LP(11a) in PLC chips. In this paper, an LP(11) mode rotator based on a polymer/silica hybrid inverted ridge waveguide is demonstrated. The proposed mode rotator is composed of an asymmetrical waveguide with a trench. According to the simulation results, the broadband conversion efficiency between the LP(11a) and LP(11b) modes is greater than 98.5%, covering the C-band after optimization. The highest mode conversion efficiency (MCE) is 99.2% at 1550 nm. The large fabrication tolerance of the proposed rotator enables its wide application in on-chip MDM systems.