Abstract
The performance of optical metal-clad waveguide polarizers is analyzed in this paper with a view to optimizing the extinction ratio. A condition for which power of the TM mode is completely attenuated is identified here. In general such a condition corresponding to an infinitely high extinction ratio can be met for a wide range of buffer layer thicknesses by selection of metal film thickness and polarizer length. When a very thick (e.g., semi-infinitely thick) metal film is used, the aforementioned condition can be met with a properly chosen buffer layer thickness and polarizer length. The numerical results show that all die polarizers designed here for realization of infinitely high extinction ratios have either quite low or reasonably acceptable attenuations for the TE mode.