Title :
Optimization of Ultracompact Polarization-Insensitive Multimode Interference Couplers Based on Si Nanowire Waveguides
Author :
Dai, Daoxin ; He, Sailing
Author_Institution :
Centre for Opt. & Electromagn. Res., Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou
Abstract :
An ultracompact multimode interference (MMI) coupler based on Si nanowire waveguides is optimized to achieve polarization-insensitive performances. According to numerical simulations, an optimal width of the MMI section to achieve a polarization-insensitive performance is obtained for a fixed thickness of the core layer. A polarization-insensitive 1times2 MMI coupler with a size of about 3.8 mum times15.3 mum is designed as an example. Numerical simulations show that this optimized MMI coupler has a good fabrication tolerance (about plusmn45 and plusmn330nm for the MMI width and length, respectively) and the 0.5-dB bandwidth is more than 60 nm for both polarizations
Keywords :
integrated optics; light interference; light polarisation; nanowires; optical couplers; optical waveguides; silicon; 15.3 mum; 3.8 mum; Si; Si nanowire waveguides; fabrication tolerance; multimode interference couplers; optical polarization; polarization-insensitive couplers; ultracompact couplers; Couplers; Electromagnetic waveguides; Interference; Optical planar waveguides; Optical polarization; Optical refraction; Optical sensors; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Passive optical networks; Multimode interference (MMI); nanowire; polarization-insensitive; silicon;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LPT.2006.882227
