Abstract
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is a common technique used to increase the capacity of optical communication networks. In this technique, data coming from different sources are transmitted through the same optical fiber using different optical carriers. We study a thermally controlled tunable photonic-crystal optical coupler. The device is designed using a triangular lattice of air holes in an epitaxially layered structure (InGaAsP/InP). In this configuration, the input and output waveguides are separated from each other, in contrast to other devices that require a reflective grating and circulators or beam splitters. We use the two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method (2D-FDTD) to analyze the performance of this device. After optimization the parameters of this device, we study the effects of changing the temperature. Not only has the position of the resonant peak changed linearly with the temperature, but the efficiency is also doubled. A linear regression of the spectral response gives a slope of dλ/dT = +0.1 nm/°C in a temperature range of ΔT = 50°C for wavelengths close to 1550 nm. These results show the possibility of tuning this contra-directional coupler using the thermo-optical effect.
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