Apparatus and method for a waveguide-based optical polarizer/isolator

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for a one-way waveguide and/or a circular polarizer that includes a waveguide having a height, a width, a length and a wave propagation direction. A first wall of the waveguide has a first slanted groove. A second wall opposite the first wall of the waveguide has a second slanted groove. The first and second grooves are rotated clockwise around the wave propagation direction to approximate a helical groove. The present invention may also include a third slanted groove in a third wall adjacent to the first wall and second wall, a fourth slanted groove in a fourth wall opposite the third wall, and the first, second, third and fourth grooves are rotated clockwise around the wave propagation direction to approximate the helical groove.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.