Wavelength division demultiplexing with photonic crystal self-collimation interference

Abstract

A theoretical model of wavelength division demultiplexer (WDD), which is based on an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer (AMZI) constructed in a two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PhC), is proposed and numerically demonstrated. The 2D PhC consists of a square lattice of cylindric air holes in silicon. The AMZI includes two mirrors and two splitters. Lights propagate between them employing self-collimation effect. The two interferometer branches have different path lengths. By using the finite-difference time-domain method, the calculation results show that the transmission spectras at two AMZI output ports are in the shape of sinusoidal curves and have a uniform peak spacing in the frequency range from 0.26<i>c/a</i> to 0.27<i>c/a</i>. When the path length of the longer branch is increased and the shorter one is fixed, the peaks shift to the lower frequencies and the peak spacing decreases nonlinearly. Consequently, the transmission can be designed to meet various application demands by changing the length difference between the two branches. For the dimensions of the WDD are about tens of operating wavelengths, this PhC WDD may be applied in future photonic integrated circuits.