The Design and Optimization of an Ion-Exchanged Polarization Converter Using a Genetic Algorithm

In this work, a genetic algorithm is used for the optimization of the design parameters of an integrated optical polarization converter on a glass substrate. The algorithm is applied to find the minimum possible length for the converter. The required asymmetry for the structure is realized with the aid of a cleaving process following the ion-exchange process. Simulation results show the possibility of realizing such a low-cost integrated converter. The obtained results demonstrate the importance of using such an algorithm in integrated optics problems where several design parameters such as the geometrical dimensions, the temperature, and the time duration are to be optimized.