Conventional polarizers can be classified into three main modes of operation: sheet polarizer using anisotropic absorption media, prism polarizer by refraction and Brewster-angle polarizer by reflection1. These polarizing components are not easily integrated with photonic circuits. The in-line fibre polarizer, which relies on polarization-selective coupling between the evanescent field and birefringent crystal2 or metal3–7, is a promising alternative because of its compatibility with most fibre-optic systems. Here, we demonstrate the operation of a broadband fibre polarizer based on graphene, an ultrathin two-dimensional carbon material. The out-coupled light in the telecommunication band shows a strong s-polarization effect with an extinction ratio of 27 dB. Unlike polarizers made from thin metal film, a graphene polarizer can support transverseelectric-mode surface wave propagation due to its linear dispersion of Dirac electrons.
Nature Photonics 5 (2011) 411-415.
Highlighted in
EurekAlert!
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-06/nuos-sri060611.php
Nanowerk
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=21634.php
PHYSORG
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-06-singapore-broadband-graphene-polarizer.html
Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110606112816.htm
Photonics.com
http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=47429
Asian Scientist
http://www.asianscientist.com/in-the-lab/graphene-polarizer/
e! Science news
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/06/06/singapore.researchers.invent.broadband.graphene.polarizer
SOFTPEDIA
http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Trait-for-Graphene-Polarizing-Light-203213.shtml
Physics Invetions
http://physicsinventions.com/index.php/singapore-researchers-invent-broadband-graphene-polarizer/
OptoIQ
http://www.optoiq.com/index/photonics-technologies-applications/lfw-display/lfw-article-display/articles/optoiq2/photonics-technologies/news/optical-components/2011/6/broadband-graphene.html
