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Compact broadband suspended silicon photonic directional coupler
Optics Letters
|June 2, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a novel air-suspended directional coupler for photonic integrated circuits. This compact device offers efficient signal routing with low insertion loss, enabling advanced silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Integrated Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Directional couplers are fundamental for on-chip photonic signal routing.
- Traditional designs are embedded within waveguide cladding materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a compact, broadband directional coupler suspended in air.
- To achieve efficient power coupling in the cross-state for silicon photonic applications.
Main Methods:
- Design and fabrication on IMEC's iSiPP50G platform.
- Utilized hydrofluoric (HF) vapor-etching for freestanding component release.
Main Results:
- Achieved a low insertion loss of 0.5 dB at 1560 nm.
- Demonstrated a 1 dB bandwidth of 35 nm at 1550 nm.
- Device exhibits a compact footprint (20µm × 30µm) and high mechanical stability.
Conclusions:
- The air-suspended directional coupler is a viable building block for silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
- Offers efficient performance and a small footprint for advanced integrated photonic circuits.
