An efficient and compact 1 × 8 beam splitter based on a tapered multimode Si waveguide atλ₀= 1330 nm

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Integrated Optics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Silicon photonics is crucial for high-speed data communication.
• Efficient beam splitters are essential components in optical circuits.
• Minimizing insertion loss is a key challenge in integrated optics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate an efficient and compact 1x8 beam splitter using silicon waveguides.
• To investigate the impact of S-bend waveguides on hybrid mode propagation and insertion loss.
• To facilitate the development of silicon photonic integrated circuits for high data rate communications.

Main Methods:

• Combining tapered multimode and short S-bend silicon waveguides.
• Fabricating a 1x8 beam splitter structure.
• Characterizing the device at a wavelength of 1330 nm to measure splitting ratios and insertion loss.

Main Results:

• An efficient and compact 1x8 beam splitter was successfully fabricated.
• Splitting ratios across 8 output channels ranged from 11.09% to 11.50%.
• A low insertion loss of 0.42 dB was achieved, attributed to S-bend waveguides suppressing bending loss.

Conclusions:

• The proposed 1x8 beam splitter demonstrates high efficiency and compactness.
• Short S-bend silicon waveguides effectively reduce bending loss for hybrid modes.
• This technology advancement supports the creation of advanced silicon photonic integrated circuits for high data rate applications.