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Updated: May 12, 2026
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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Optimizing photonic crystal waveguides for on-chip spectroscopic applications.
Andreas C Liapis1, Zhimin Shi, Robert W Boyd
1The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. liapis@optics.rochester.edu
Optics Express
|April 24, 2013
Summary
We propose using photonic crystal waveguides for high-resolution on-chip spectrometers. Optimized for working finesse, these waveguides offer superior spectral resolution and a compact footprint compared to conventional devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Spectroscopy
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Photonic crystal waveguides are typically optimized for group index bandwidth product.
- Existing on-chip spectrometers have limitations in resolution and size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the suitability of photonic crystal waveguides for high-resolution on-chip spectrometers.
- To establish working finesse as the key performance metric for slow-light spectrometers.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations were employed to analyze photonic crystal waveguide performance.
- The study focused on optimizing waveguides for working finesse.
Main Results:
- A properly optimized photonic crystal waveguide can achieve a spectral resolution of 0.04 nm over a 12.5 nm bandwidth near 1550 nm.
- The proposed on-chip spectrometer offers a footprint six times smaller than conventional spectrometers.
Conclusions:
- Photonic crystal waveguides are highly applicable for developing advanced on-chip spectrometers.
- Optimizing for working finesse is crucial for achieving high spectral resolution in slow-light spectrometers.
