Abstract
We demonstrate a compact silicon photonic crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometer operating in the self-collimation regime. By tailoring the photonic band structure such as to produce self-collimated beams, it is possible to design beam splitters and mirrors and combine these to a 20 x 20 microm(2) format. With transmission spectroscopy we find a pronounced unidirectional optical output, the output ratio being as high as 25 at the self-collimation wavelength. Furthermore, the self-collimated beams and the unidirectionality are clearly observed in real space using near-field and far-field optical microscopy. Interpretation of the optical data is strongly supported by different types of simulations.
Highlights
Optical waveguides based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and fabricated in CMOS compatible technology will likely replace electrical interconnects for high data rate circuits [1,2,3]
We demonstrate a compact silicon photonic crystal MachZehnder interferometer operating in the self-collimation regime
Our results call for development of tuning the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) output
Summary
Optical waveguides based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and fabricated in CMOS compatible technology will likely replace electrical interconnects for high data rate circuits [1,2,3] In this context, a modulator based on a silicon-waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is very promising [2]. We demonstrate a different concept for a compact MZI built from a PhC operating in the special regime of self-collimation of light. To reach this regime, we have tailored the photonic band structure such as to produce selfcollimated beams. Beam splitters and mirrors inside a PhC operating in the self-collimation mode have been realized and studied as separate elements [11,12,13], these photonic building blocks have not yet been combined in an operational PhC MZI
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