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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

Published on: April 4, 2017

Theoretical time-domain study of self-imaging properties in a multimode interference coupler.

Hidenobu Hamada¹

¹Networks Development Center, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka, Japan. hamada.hidenobu@jp.panasonic.com

|June 1, 2007

Summary

Spatial self-imaging in multimode interference devices does not guarantee temporal self-imaging. Waveform separation and pulse spreading depend heavily on input position and field distribution, with significant variations observed.

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Area of Science:

Photonics
Optical Engineering
Wave Propagation

Background:

Multimode interference (MMI) devices are crucial for optical signal processing.
Self-imaging phenomena in MMI devices are well-studied in the spatial domain.
Understanding temporal characteristics, like pulse spreading, is vital for high-speed optical systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the self-imaging properties in the time domain for generalized N x N multimode interference devices.
To analyze the effects of modal group-delay dispersion on pulse behavior.
To quantify pulse spreading and waveform separation based on input conditions.

Main Methods:

Theoretical analysis using mode-propagation.
Numerical simulations employing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.
Examination of generalized N x N multimode interference devices.

Main Results:

Spatial self-imaging does not lead to temporal self-imaging.
Waveform separation is dependent on input position and field distribution.
Pulse spreading exhibits significant variation (up to 900 fs) with input position, sensitive to beam diameter.

Conclusions:

The spatial self-imaging condition is insufficient for achieving temporal self-imaging in MMI devices.
Modal group-delay dispersion significantly impacts temporal characteristics, leading to input-dependent pulse spreading.
Careful consideration of input parameters is necessary to manage pulse spreading in MMI-based systems.