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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
11:08
Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Low-loss guided modes in photonic crystal waveguides
Optics Express
|June 6, 2009
Summary
We developed a theoretical model for disorder-induced propagation losses in photonic crystal waveguides. Our findings show potential for reducing losses by an order of magnitude, enabling lower loss propagation.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Photonic crystal slabs with line-defects guide light but suffer from propagation losses.
- Fabrication imperfections, such as size disorder in etched holes, are primary causes of these losses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically model and analyze disorder-induced propagation losses in photonic crystal waveguides.
- To compare model predictions with experimental data in various structures (membrane, SOI).
- To propose new designs for reducing propagation losses.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of size disorder in photonic lattices.
- Analysis of propagation losses dependence on photon group velocity and bandwidth.
- Comparison with experimental data for membrane and Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) systems.
Main Results:
- Propagation losses are strongly influenced by fabrication imperfections.
- Loss dependence on group velocity and bandwidth is analyzed for different waveguide designs.
- Proposed designs show potential to reduce losses by nearly an order of magnitude.
Conclusions:
- Disorder-induced losses in photonic crystal waveguides can be significantly reduced through optimized design.
- Propagation losses below 0.1 dB/mm are achievable with state-of-the-art fabrication.
- Varying channel widths in waveguides offers a promising design strategy for improved performance.
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