Polarization-independent electro-optic depolarizer

We demonstrate a compact electro-optic polarization scrambler that depolarizes arbitrarily polarized light with less than 2.5% residual degree of polarization and variable depolarization times in the microsecond to millisecond range. The integrated-optic depolarizer is fabricated on lithium niobate and operates with a single-mode waveguide designed for a 1.5-μm wavelength. The scrambler introduces negligible intensity modulation of less than 1.6% in the depolarized output light.