Abstract
In this paper, a thermally tuned silicon-based three-channel reconfigurable multimode interference (MMI) optical power splitter with four optimized thermal isolations is proposed. Specific and flexible reconfigurable functions (1×1, 1×2, and 1×3 MMI splitters) can be achieved by thermally tuning the heaters. By using a beam propagation method, the optimum geometry of the heaters, desired refractive index changes, and phase shifts of the MMI splitter are calculated at first. The temperature distributions of the devices without and with the thermal isolations are then analyzed by using the finite element method. Thermal crosstalk between adjacent heaters is observed and the influence of the thermal isolation geometry on the thermal crosstalk is examined subsequently. The geometry of the thermal isolations is optimized based on the trade-off between the thermal tuning efficiency and optical output characteristics. Finally, satisfactory improvements with the proposed structure are demonstrated with high-thermal efficiency (the maximum power dissipation decreases reach 43.7% and 55.2% for 1×1 and 1×2 MMI splitters, respectively) and good optical output quality (the maximum excess losses are as low as 0.365, 0.388, and 0.272 dB for 1×1, 1×2, and 1×3 MMI splitters, respectively; the crosstalk is less than −21.27 and −15.54 dB for 1×1 and 1×2 MMI splitters, respectively).
Highlights
In recent years, silicon photonics has been paid great attention for a growing number of applications due to its tremendous versatility.[1]
We have proposed a thermally tuned siliconbased three-channel reconfigurable multimode interference (MMI) optical power splitter with four optimized thermal isolations
Thermal crosstalk between adjacent heaters is observed by comparing the temperature changes with regard to different geometries of the thermal isolations
Summary
Silicon photonics has been paid great attention for a growing number of applications (e.g., optical communication, manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, etc.) due to its tremendous versatility.[1]. A thermally tuned silicon-based threechannel reconfigurable MMI optical power splitter with four optimized thermal isolations is proposed. To fulfill specific reconfigurable functions (1 × 1, 1 × 2, and 1 × 3 MMI splitters), the optimum geometry of the heaters, desired refractive index changes, and phase shifts of the MMI splitter are designed at first by using the beam propagation method (BPM). Han and Yu: Optimization of a thermally tuned silicon-based reconfigurable optical power splitter. The geometry of the thermal isolations is optimized to ensure high-thermal efficiency (i.e., low-power dissipation) and good optical outputs (e.g., low losses and crosstalk, good uniformity, etc.)
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