Optical waveguide element and method for polarization splitting

An optical waveguide element, comprising first and second optical waveguides formed to have different waveguide modes of guided lights, whose polarized waves are different, wherein

• the first optical waveguide includes a directional coupling region, and the second optical waveguide includes an incident side waveguide, which has the directional coupling region and which is provided in parallel with the first optical waveguide, and the second optical waveguide includes an exit side waveguide, which is extended from the incident side waveguide and which is bent in the direction that recedes from the first optical waveguide.

A method for polarization splitting which splits orthogonal polarization components of a waveguide light incident on a first optical waveguide into the first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide by means of an optical waveguide element comprising the first and second optical waveguides which are formed to have different waveguide modes of guided lights, whose polarized waves are different, wherein the first optical waveguide includes a directional coupling region, and the second optical waveguide includes an incident side waveguide, which has the directional coupling region and which is provided in parallel with the first optical waveguide, and the second optical waveguide includes an exit side waveguide, which is extended from the incident side waveguide and which is bent in the direction that recedes from the first optical waveguide.