title: Sagnac-loop phase shifter with polarization-independent operation.
abstract: A bulk-optics, polarization-independent phase shifter for photonic quantum information applications is demonstrated. The device is based on a transverse electro-optic modulator in a Sagnac-type loop containing Faraday rotators. This direction-dependent polarization rotation in the loop is combined with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to form an optical switch with an on/off contrast of 96% and a switching time of 1.6 ns. We demonstrate that the device's operation maintains any arbitrary polarization state.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Quantum Technologies/Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tien Tjuen
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Darwin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gosal
authors.forename: Antía
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamas-Linares
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurtsiefer