Programmable space-frequency linear transformations in photonic interlacing architectures

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Integrated Optics
• Optical Computing

Background:

• Programmable photonic circuits route light using reconfigurable elements for discrete linear operations.
• Current research focuses on modal amplitude transformations in single-mode waveguides.
• Many applications need simultaneous space-frequency domain transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate linear space-frequency transformations using a novel programmable silicon photonic circuit.
• To leverage an alternating architecture for reconfigurable frequency-dependent matrix elements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a four-port programmable silicon photonic circuit with an alternating architecture.
• Leveraged limited dispersion in coupled waveguide arrays.
• Implemented wavelength demultiplexing and filtering functionalities.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated linear space-frequency transformations.
• Achieved reconfigurable frequency-dependent matrix elements.
• Validated the device for wavelength demultiplexing and filtering.

Conclusions:

• The developed architecture enables versatile space-frequency transformations.
• This platform can lead to devices for wavelength routing and programmable dispersion control.
• Paves the way for advanced photonic information processing.