High power waveguide polarizer with broad bandwidth and low loss, and methods of making and using same

A waveguide polarizer, comprising:

• a hollow waveguide body having an interior surface;
• a first ridge disposed on the interior surface of the hollow waveguide body and having an inward-facing surface;
• a first plurality of projections disposed on the inward-facing surface of the first ridge, the projections of the first plurality having a width and a length, wherein the width is narrower than a width of the first ridge, and wherein the length is tunable;
• a second ridge disposed on the interior surface of the hollow waveguide body opposite the first ridge, the second ridge having an inward-facing surface;
• a second plurality of projections disposed on the inward-facing surface of the second ridge, the projections of the second plurality having a width and a length, wherein the width is narrower than a width of the second ridge, and wherein the length is tunable;
• third and fourth ridges disposed on the interior surface of the hollow waveguide body, the third ridge and the fourth ridge each having an inward-facing surface;
• a third plurality of projections disposed on the inward-facing surface of the third ridge;
• and
• a fourth plurality of projections disposed on the inward-facing surface of the fourth ridge,
• the third and fourth ridges each having a height that is shorter than a height of the first and second ridges,
• the third and fourth ridges being disposed orthogonally to the first and second ridges, and
• the projections of the third and fourth pluralities having a length that is shorter than the length of the projections of the first and second pluralities.