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Published on: February 6, 2014
Twelve-channel LAN wavelength-division multiplexer on lithium niobate
Jianghao He1, Ming Zhang1, Dajian Liu1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, Center for Optical and Electromagnetic Research, College of Optical Science and Engineering, International Research Center for Advanced Photonics, Ningbo Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
This study introduces a novel twelve-channel local-area-network wavelength-division multiplexing filter using lithium-niobate-on-insulator waveguides. The device achieves excellent performance with low loss and minimal crosstalk, enabling high-capacity WDM systems.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Integrated Optics
- Waveguide Devices
Background:
- Wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is crucial for increasing optical communication capacity.
- Existing local-area-network (LAN) WDM filters face challenges in achieving high channel density and low crosstalk.
- Lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) offers a promising platform for advanced photonic integrated circuits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel twelve-channel LAN WDM filter.
- To utilize LNOI photonic waveguides for LWDM filter fabrication.
- To achieve high spectral performance and low interchannel crosstalk.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a twelve-channel LWDM filter using x-cut LNOI photonic waveguides.
- Design incorporating multimode waveguide gratings (MWGs) with cascaded stages for bandpass filtering.
- Utilizing a TE0/TE1 mode (de)multiplexer for filter operation.
- Characterization of spectral response, excess loss, 1-dB bandwidth, and interchannel crosstalk.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of a twelve-channel LWDM filter with uniform 4.5 nm channel spacing in the O-band (1270-1330 nm).
- Achieved excellent box-like spectral responses with low excess losses (~0.6 dB).
- Exhibited broad 1-dB bandwidths (~2.9-3.4 nm) and ultra-low interchannel crosstalk (<-40 dB).
- Demonstrated high tolerance to fabrication variations in etching depth and waveguide width.
Conclusions:
- The first demonstration of a twelve-channel LWDM filter on LNOI waveguides.
- The proposed filter design achieves superior spectral performance and crosstalk suppression.
- The device's robustness and performance indicate significant potential for high-capacity WDM systems.
