Realizing high transmission intensity in photonic crystal nanobeams using a side-coupling waveguide

Side-coupled photonic crystal (PhC) nanobeam cavities were investigated to overcome challenges in measuring low-order resonances in traditional in-line PhC nanobeams that arise due to the trade-off between achieving high quality (Q)-factor and high transmission intensity resonances. On the same PhC nanobeam, we demonstrate that the side-coupling approach leads to measurable resonances even in cases in which high mirror strength unit cells severely limit the intensity of transmitted light through the in-line configuration. In addition, by coupling light directly into the cavity center, the design of side-coupled PhC nanobeams can be simplified such that high Q-factor PhC nanobeams can be achieved using only two different hole radii and uniform hole spacing.