Narrow-core hollow optical waveguide with nanostructured SOI as ultra-low loss platform for efficient photodetection

Abstract

A nanostructured hollow optical waveguide based on high-index contrast grating (HCG) embedded SOI is proposed. An ultra-low propagation loss of 1.22 dB/m even at narrow, 1- $$\upmu $$ m thick, air-core is reported. A high-performance photodetection is realized by the introduction of hollow core in form of intrinsic region in the photodetection (PIN) layer within HCG-assisted narrow-core waveguide. A sufficiently high responsivity of 0.8 A/W and quantum efficiency of 64% are obtained at 1550-nm which is possible because of the presence of surface modes within HCG which get coupled in the photodetection layer leading to a strong optical confinement in that layer. High reflectivity, small penetration length and coupling of lateral surface modes in HCG make it possible to offer improved waveguiding and hence photodetection.