Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance

High-performance facet couplers are essential components in the field of silicon nitride integrated photonic chips. In this work, a novel end-face coupling structure, using a double-layer SiO<sub>x</sub>N thin-film waveguide, is proposed. By precisely controlling the thickness and gap of...

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Main Authors: Zhaozhen Chen, Xin Fu, Lei Zhang, Zhengsheng Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/136
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author Zhaozhen Chen
Xin Fu
Lei Zhang
Zhengsheng Han
author_facet Zhaozhen Chen
Xin Fu
Lei Zhang
Zhengsheng Han
author_sort Zhaozhen Chen
collection DOAJ
description High-performance facet couplers are essential components in the field of silicon nitride integrated photonic chips. In this work, a novel end-face coupling structure, using a double-layer SiO<sub>x</sub>N thin-film waveguide, is proposed. By precisely controlling the thickness and gap of the SiO<sub>x</sub>N layers, we achieve flexible tuning of the output mode field size. This structure offers exceptional performance, including ultra-low coupling loss (TE: 0.29 dB, TM: 0.31 dB), large 3 dB alignment tolerance (±2.5 μm), and near-zero polarization-dependent loss. The optimized design strikes a favorable balance between coupling efficiency and alignment tolerance, making it well-suited for a wide range of photonic applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-da15a381f5364b2cb7f9709d44d488b2
institution DOAJ
issn 2304-6732
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Photonics
spelling doaj-art-da15a381f5364b2cb7f9709d44d488b22025-08-20T03:12:09ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-02-0112213610.3390/photonics12020136Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment ToleranceZhaozhen Chen0Xin Fu1Lei Zhang2Zhengsheng Han3Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communications System and Networks, School of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100080, ChinaInstitute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, ChinaHigh-performance facet couplers are essential components in the field of silicon nitride integrated photonic chips. In this work, a novel end-face coupling structure, using a double-layer SiO<sub>x</sub>N thin-film waveguide, is proposed. By precisely controlling the thickness and gap of the SiO<sub>x</sub>N layers, we achieve flexible tuning of the output mode field size. This structure offers exceptional performance, including ultra-low coupling loss (TE: 0.29 dB, TM: 0.31 dB), large 3 dB alignment tolerance (±2.5 μm), and near-zero polarization-dependent loss. The optimized design strikes a favorable balance between coupling efficiency and alignment tolerance, making it well-suited for a wide range of photonic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/136edge couplerssilicon photonicssilicon nitridesilicon oxynitride
spellingShingle Zhaozhen Chen
Xin Fu
Lei Zhang
Zhengsheng Han
Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
Photonics
edge couplers
silicon photonics
silicon nitride
silicon oxynitride
title Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
title_full Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
title_fullStr Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
title_full_unstemmed Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
title_short Modeling Dual-SiO<sub>x</sub>N Thin-Film Edge Coupler with Ultra-Low Loss and Large Alignment Tolerance
title_sort modeling dual sio sub x sub n thin film edge coupler with ultra low loss and large alignment tolerance
topic edge couplers
silicon photonics
silicon nitride
silicon oxynitride
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/2/136
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AT leizhang modelingdualsiosubxsubnthinfilmedgecouplerwithultralowlossandlargealignmenttolerance
AT zhengshenghan modelingdualsiosubxsubnthinfilmedgecouplerwithultralowlossandlargealignmenttolerance