Optical device for polarization dependent loss compensation

Abstract

An optical device for polarization dependent loss compensation and a polarization controlling wavelength selective switch (PC-WSS). The device includes a polarization independent liquid crystal on silicon (PI-LCoS) structure, a first liquid crystal structure disposed on the PI-LCOS structure; and a second liquid crystal structure disposed on the first liquid crystal layer, the two liquid crystal structures having a common ground electrode. The PI-LCOS structure includes a metamaterial quarter-wave plate (QWP) disposed over a silicon substrate. The PC-WSS includes an optical assembly arranged to receive light from a fiber array unit; a polarization-insensitive grating structure optically aligned with the optical assembly; and the optical device for polarization dependent loss compensation optically aligned with the polarization-insensitive grating structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.