Reconfigurable SDM Switching Using Novel Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Communications
• Integrated Optics
• Fiber Optic Networks

Background:

• Space division multiplexing (SDM) with multicore fibers is a key technology for increasing network capacity.
• Reconfigurable switches are essential components in SDM fiber networks.
• Existing switching technologies face challenges in terms of loss and integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the first reconfigurable space-division multiplexing switch utilizing silicon photonic integrated circuits.
• To showcase the integration of a novel silicon-on-insulator platform with a buried aluminum mirror for enhanced performance.
• To validate the system's capability for high-speed data transmission and switching in multicore fiber networks.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a silicon photonic integrated circuit featuring a 7x7 switch and multicore fiber couplers with grating couplers.
• Utilizing a novel silicon-on-insulator platform with a buried aluminum mirror to achieve ultra-low coupling loss.
• Characterization of insertion loss, crosstalk, and bit error rate (BER) across the C-band for all spatial channels.

Main Results:

• Achieved ultra-low coupling loss for grating couplers due to the buried aluminum mirror.
• Demonstrated a lowest total insertion loss of 4.5 dB and crosstalk below -30 dB across the C-band.
• Successfully transmitted 1 Tb/s/core over a 2-km 7-core fiber, achieving BER below 10^-9 with low power penalty.

Conclusions:

• The developed silicon photonic integrated circuit provides a high-performance solution for reconfigurable space-division multiplexing switching.
• The design exhibits excellent low loss and low crosstalk characteristics, suitable for advanced optical networks.
• The platform is scalable and can be upgraded for applications like reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers.