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Nanoscale mode selector in silicon waveguide for on chip nanofocusing applications
Boris Desiatov1, Ilya Goykhman, Uriel Levy
1Department of Applied Physics, The Benin School of Engineering and Computer Science, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
Nano Letters
|October 15, 2009
Summary
This study introduces a nanoscale mode selector for silicon waveguides. The device uses a photonic crystal (PhC) to filter modes, enabling nanofocusing applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Silicon waveguides are crucial for integrated photonics.
- Controlling light at the nanoscale is essential for advanced optical devices.
- Existing methods for mode selection can be complex or inefficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel nanoscale mode selector for silicon waveguides.
- To enable selective propagation of the first antisymmetric mode.
- To pave the way for on-chip nanofocusing devices.
Main Methods:
- Embedding a short section of photonic crystal (PhC) into a silicon waveguide.
- Designing the PhC based on differences in k-vector distribution between waveguide modes.
- Utilizing near-field scanning optical microscopy to measure modal content.
- Performing numerical simulations for mode coupling analysis.
Main Results:
- The photonic crystal (PhC) creates a band gap for the fundamental mode while allowing transmission of the first antisymmetric mode.
- An extinction ratio of approximately 23 dB was achieved.
- Numerical simulations showed strong coupling of the antisymmetric mode to metallic nanotips.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanoscale mode selector effectively isolates the first antisymmetric mode.
- This device is a promising building block for on-chip nanofocusing.
- The technology has potential applications in integrated photonic circuits and nanophotonics.
