Abstract
We propose and numerically demonstrate a design of bidirectional transverse electric (TE) polarized mode-order converter based on silicon-on-insulator platform. This converter is realized by introducing high refractive index material inlaid in a silicon slab waveguide. Simulated by three-dimensional finite-difference method time-domain, the forward (TE0 to TE1-like conversion) transmittance reaches approximately 88.2%, while the backward value (TE1 to TE0-like conversion) is about 89.4% at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The footprint of this converter is as small as 0.95 × 1.5 μ m2. Fabrication tolerance analysis demonstrates satisfactory robustness. Moreover, we present a polarization-independent converter with slightly modified geometry. The transmittance keeps above 87.2% within the wavelength range from 1500 nm to 1600 nm for both TE and transverse magnetic modes. These devices are expected to contribute to the on-chip mode division multiplexing.
Highlights
In recent years, the capacity of fiber-optic networks based on dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology has become increasingly saturated
This converter is realized by introducing high refractive index material inlaid in a silicon slab waveguide
When the TE0 mode is excited at the left port of multimode silicon waveguide in Fig. 3(a), part of the light gradually couples into the upper high refractive index material (HRIM) area
Summary
The capacity of fiber-optic networks based on dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology has become increasingly saturated. Space division multiplexing (SDM) technology has been confirmed as an effective solution. As an integrated SDM technique, mode division multiplexing (MDM) has caught extensive attention by introducing a novel channel for the on-chip optical communication system. Different spatial eigen-modes can be utilized as new parallel channels to encode separate data in a waveguide [1]. The mode converter, which achieves free conversion between different modes, is a key component to conduct MDM systems [2], and attracts tremendous interest due to their potential applications in optical integrated circuits [3]–[5]. The photonicto-photonic mode conversion mainly consists of mode-order converters and polarization rotators
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