Multimode interference couplers for the conversion and combining of zero- and first-order modes

Author

Leuthold, Juerg ; Eckner, Juerg ; Gamper, Emil ; Besse, Pierre A. ; Melchior, Hans

Author_Institution

Inst. for Quantum Electron., Swiss Fed. Inst. of Technol., Zurich, Switzerland

Volume

16

Issue

7

fYear

1998

fDate

7/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1228

Lastpage

1239

Abstract

Optical waveguide mode-combiners for fundamental and first-order modes, based on multimode interference (MMI) couplers are presented. These devices convert a fundamental mode into a transversal first-order mode and combine it in lossless fashion with a second fundamental mode. They can separate zero- and first-order modes in a common waveguide and allow the splitting and combining of zero- and first-order modes with nonuniform power splitting ratios. Realizations in InGaAsP-InP are demonstrated. These new components have successfully been integrated into all-optical switches and were found to have advantageous characteristics in all-optical devices

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; integrated optics; light interference; optical couplers; optical switches; optical waveguide theory; optical waveguides; InGaAsP-InP; all-optical devices; all-optical switches; common waveguide; first-order modes; fundamental mode; integrated optics; lossless fashion; multimode interference couplers; nonuniform power splitting ratios; optical waveguide mode-combiners; second fundamental mode; transversal first-order mode; zero-order modes; Couplers; Indium phosphide; Integrated optics; Interference; Optical control; Optical devices; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical switches; Optical waveguides;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.701401

Filename

701401