Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide

Mode division multiplexing (MDM) technology is becoming increasingly important for modern optical communication systems. Here, an ultra-compact broadband in-line mode converter for quasi-TE<sub>00</sub> and quasi-TE<sub>10</sub> on the silicon-on-insulator platform is propose...

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Main Authors: Ze Chen, Tianying Lin, Xiaoping Liu, Haibin Lv
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2021-01-01
Series:IEEE Photonics Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9380381/
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author Ze Chen
Tianying Lin
Xiaoping Liu
Haibin Lv
author_facet Ze Chen
Tianying Lin
Xiaoping Liu
Haibin Lv
author_sort Ze Chen
collection DOAJ
description Mode division multiplexing (MDM) technology is becoming increasingly important for modern optical communication systems. Here, an ultra-compact broadband in-line mode converter for quasi-TE<sub>00</sub> and quasi-TE<sub>10</sub> on the silicon-on-insulator platform is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. In our device, the mode-conversion region consists of a continuously width-modulated waveguide with a footprint size as small as 1.32 &#x00D7; 4.52 &#x03BC;m<sup>2</sup>. Its modulation profile is designed by using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. This device has a simulated conversion efficiency of about &#x2212;0.174 dB and an insertion loss less than 0.153 dB within 100-nm wavelength bandwidth from 1500 nm to 1600&#x00A0;nm. Our design exhibits a favorable fabrication error tolerance and the fabricated device has achieved nearly the same conversion efficiency as the simulated one. Our concept can also be applied to design other high-performance mode converters, i.e., converting modes between quasi-TE<sub>20</sub> and quasi-TE<sub>00</sub>. Our work suggests a very promising path for realizing compact integrated MDM systems.
format Article
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issn 1943-0655
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publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher IEEE
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series IEEE Photonics Journal
spelling doaj-art-6fa9b3bcee824277a44557a45a91db642025-08-20T03:15:50ZengIEEEIEEE Photonics Journal1943-06552021-01-011321710.1109/JPHOT.2021.30661989380381Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon WaveguideZe Chen0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3623-9756Tianying Lin1Xiaoping Liu2Haibin Lv3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3064-9818National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, ChinaMode division multiplexing (MDM) technology is becoming increasingly important for modern optical communication systems. Here, an ultra-compact broadband in-line mode converter for quasi-TE<sub>00</sub> and quasi-TE<sub>10</sub> on the silicon-on-insulator platform is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. In our device, the mode-conversion region consists of a continuously width-modulated waveguide with a footprint size as small as 1.32 &#x00D7; 4.52 &#x03BC;m<sup>2</sup>. Its modulation profile is designed by using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. This device has a simulated conversion efficiency of about &#x2212;0.174 dB and an insertion loss less than 0.153 dB within 100-nm wavelength bandwidth from 1500 nm to 1600&#x00A0;nm. Our design exhibits a favorable fabrication error tolerance and the fabricated device has achieved nearly the same conversion efficiency as the simulated one. Our concept can also be applied to design other high-performance mode converters, i.e., converting modes between quasi-TE<sub>20</sub> and quasi-TE<sub>00</sub>. Our work suggests a very promising path for realizing compact integrated MDM systems.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9380381/Mode converterparticle swarm optimizationsilicon waveguide
spellingShingle Ze Chen
Tianying Lin
Xiaoping Liu
Haibin Lv
Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
IEEE Photonics Journal
Mode converter
particle swarm optimization
silicon waveguide
title Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
title_full Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
title_fullStr Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
title_full_unstemmed Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
title_short Ultra-Compact Broadband In-Line Mode Converter Based on a Width-Modulated Silicon Waveguide
title_sort ultra compact broadband in line mode converter based on a width modulated silicon waveguide
topic Mode converter
particle swarm optimization
silicon waveguide
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9380381/
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AT tianyinglin ultracompactbroadbandinlinemodeconverterbasedonawidthmodulatedsiliconwaveguide
AT xiaopingliu ultracompactbroadbandinlinemodeconverterbasedonawidthmodulatedsiliconwaveguide
AT haibinlv ultracompactbroadbandinlinemodeconverterbasedonawidthmodulatedsiliconwaveguide