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Ultracompact splitter for submicrometer silicon-on-insulator rib waveguides
Alain Koster1, Eric Cassan, Suzanne Laval
1Institut d'Electronique Fondamentale, Unité Mixte de Recherche 8622, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Sud, F91405 Orsay, France. alain.koster@ief.u-psud.fr
Summary
A new ultracompact 1x2 optical splitter for silicon photonics is reported. This star coupler design is smaller, more efficient, and less sensitive to manufacturing variations than existing devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Integrated Optics
- Silicon Photonics
Background:
- Existing 1x2 optical splitters, such as multi-mode interference (MMI) and Y-branch devices, face limitations in size and sensitivity to fabrication variations.
- Submicrometer silicon-on-insulator (SOI) rib waveguides are crucial for advanced photonic integrated circuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and report an ultracompact and highly efficient 1x2 optical splitter for SOI rib waveguides.
- To develop a splitter that overcomes the size and sensitivity limitations of conventional designs.
Main Methods:
- The splitter utilizes a star coupler architecture for enhanced compactness.
- Design optimization was performed using the effective-index method and a two-dimensional beam-propagation method.
- Performance was evaluated at a wavelength of 1.31 micrometers.
Main Results:
- The proposed splitter is significantly smaller than traditional MMI or Y-branch splitters.
- Excess losses were measured to be below 0.15 dB.
- The device exhibits excellent wavelength stability, with loss variations less than 0.04 dB across the 1.23 to 1.63 micrometer range.
Conclusions:
- The star coupler-based 1x2 splitter offers superior performance in terms of size and efficiency for silicon photonic applications.
- Its low loss and flat wavelength dependence make it highly suitable for coarse wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM).
- The reduced sensitivity to technological fluctuations enhances its practicality for mass production in silicon photonic technology.