A polarization metrology for optical interconnects which use polarization beam combining

Abstract

Several free space optical interconnects for digital optical computing which use polarization beam combining are currently being implemented 1-5 These architectures interconnect 2-D arrays of optical logic devices by imaging arrays of spots, generated by binary phase gratings, from one logic device to the next. Polarization beam combining addresses the need to combine input beams and separate output beams by using space-variant mirrors in conjunction with polarizing beam splitters and waveplates. The throughput of the interconnect is limited primarily by the polarizing beam splitters and the waveplates.