Silicon-Nanowire-Based 100-GHz-Spaced 16λ DWDM, 800-GHz-Spaced 8λ LR-8, and 20-nm-Spaced 4λ CWDM Optical Demultiplexers for High-Density Interconnects in Datacenters

Abstract

Several types of silicon-nanowire-based optical demultiplexers (DeMUXs) for use in short-reach targeted datacenter applications were proposed and their spectral responses were experimentally verified. First, a novel 100-GHz-spaced 16λ polarization-diversified optical DeMUX consisting of 2λ delayed interferometer (DI) type interleaver and 8λ arrayed waveguide gratings will be discussed in the spectral regimes of C-band, together with experimental characterizations showing static and dynamic spectral properties. Second, a novel 800-GHz-spaced 8λ optical DeMUX was targeted for use in LR (long reach) 400 Gbps Ethernet applications. Based on multiple cascade-connected DIs, by integrating the extra band elimination cutting area, discontinuous filtering response was analytically identified with a flat-topped spectral window and a low spectral noise of <−20 dB within an entire LR-8 operating wavelength range. Finally, a 20-nm-spaced 4λ coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM)-targeted optical DeMUX based on polarization diversity was experimentally verified. The measurement results showed a low excessive loss of 1.0 dB and a polarization-dependent loss of 1.0 dB, prominently reducing spectral noises from neighboring channels by less than −15 dB. Moreover, TM-mode elimination filters were theoretically analyzed and experimentally confirmed to minimize unwanted TM-mode-oriented polarization noises that were generated from the polarization-handling device. The TM-mode elimination filters functioned to reduce polarization noises to much lower than −20 dB across the entire CWDM operating window.