OPTICAL POLARIZATION CONVERTER

An optical polarization converter includes an optical waveguide. A portion of the optical waveguide has an asymmetric cross-section profile. For example, a cross-section of the portion of the optical waveguide may not have symmetry associated with a horizontal axis and may not have symmetry associated with a vertical axis. The portion of the optical waveguide is tapered. For example, the portion of the optical waveguide may be associated with one or more taper ratios. The portion of the optical waveguide is configured to convert a polarization mode of an optical beam from a first fundamental polarization mode to a second fundamental polarization mode, such as from a fundamental transverse electric (TE) polarization mode to a fundamental transverse magnetic (TM) polarization mode (or vice versa).