Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization
Silicon photonics is the leading platform in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling dense integration and low-cost manufacturing for applications such as data communications, artificial intelligence, and quantum processing, to name a few. However, efficient and polarization-insensitive fiber-...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Photonics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/428 |
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| author | Jorge Parra |
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| description | Silicon photonics is the leading platform in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling dense integration and low-cost manufacturing for applications such as data communications, artificial intelligence, and quantum processing, to name a few. However, efficient and polarization-insensitive fiber-to-PIC coupling for multipoint wafer characterization remains a challenge due to the birefringence of silicon waveguides. Here, we address this issue by proposing polarization-insensitive grating couplers based on subwavelength dielectric metamaterials and metaheuristic optimization. Subwavelength periodic structures were engineered to act as uniaxial homogeneous linear (UHL) materials, enabling tailored anisotropy. On the other hand, particle swarm optimization (PSO) was employed to optimize the coupling efficiency, bandwidth, and polarization-dependent loss (PDL). Numerical simulations demonstrated that a pitch of 100 nm ensures UHL behavior while minimizing leaky waves. Optimized grating couplers achieved coupling efficiencies higher than −3 dB and a PDL of below 1 dB across the telecom C-band (1530–1565 nm). Three optimization strategies were explored, balancing efficiency, the bandwidth, and the PDL while considering the Pareto front. This work establishes a robust framework combining metamaterial engineering with computational optimization, paving the way for high-performance polarization-insensitive grating couplers with potential uses in advanced photonic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d3ab70636ae4ac7ad40b48b119e258b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-6732 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Photonics |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d3ab70636ae4ac7ad40b48b119e258b2025-08-20T03:48:02ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-04-0112542810.3390/photonics12050428Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic OptimizationJorge Parra0Nanophotonics Technology Center, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainSilicon photonics is the leading platform in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), enabling dense integration and low-cost manufacturing for applications such as data communications, artificial intelligence, and quantum processing, to name a few. However, efficient and polarization-insensitive fiber-to-PIC coupling for multipoint wafer characterization remains a challenge due to the birefringence of silicon waveguides. Here, we address this issue by proposing polarization-insensitive grating couplers based on subwavelength dielectric metamaterials and metaheuristic optimization. Subwavelength periodic structures were engineered to act as uniaxial homogeneous linear (UHL) materials, enabling tailored anisotropy. On the other hand, particle swarm optimization (PSO) was employed to optimize the coupling efficiency, bandwidth, and polarization-dependent loss (PDL). Numerical simulations demonstrated that a pitch of 100 nm ensures UHL behavior while minimizing leaky waves. Optimized grating couplers achieved coupling efficiencies higher than −3 dB and a PDL of below 1 dB across the telecom C-band (1530–1565 nm). Three optimization strategies were explored, balancing efficiency, the bandwidth, and the PDL while considering the Pareto front. This work establishes a robust framework combining metamaterial engineering with computational optimization, paving the way for high-performance polarization-insensitive grating couplers with potential uses in advanced photonic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/428polarizationgrating couplersubwavelengthparticle swarm optimizationsilicon photonics |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Parra Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization Photonics polarization grating coupler subwavelength particle swarm optimization silicon photonics |
| title | Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization |
| title_full | Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization |
| title_fullStr | Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization |
| title_short | Polarization-Insensitive Silicon Grating Couplers via Subwavelength Metamaterials and Metaheuristic Optimization |
| title_sort | polarization insensitive silicon grating couplers via subwavelength metamaterials and metaheuristic optimization |
| topic | polarization grating coupler subwavelength particle swarm optimization silicon photonics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/5/428 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgeparra polarizationinsensitivesilicongratingcouplersviasubwavelengthmetamaterialsandmetaheuristicoptimization |