12-channel tapered SOI-based AWG for CWDM system

A 12-channel Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)-based Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) with different core width sizes of 1.2 μm and 1.0 μm was designed and characterized for Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) System. Beam Propagation Method (BPM) was used to simulate the propagation of light in this device at operating wavelength of 1.491 μm which producing the peak transmission wavelengths ranging from 1391 to 1611 nm. The output spectrum peaks that were obtained from both core widths are close to the CWDM wavelength grid. The core width of 1.2 μm produced the lowest insertion loss and adjacent crosstalk with the values of 4.03 dB and -15.02 dB respectively. Meanwhile, insertion loss of 5.03 dB and adjacent crosstalk of -15.96 dB was obtained from the 1.0 μm core width device where the losses are higher. Hence, the A WG device with larger core width size produced a better insertion loss and adjacent crosstalk.