VTT's micron-scale silicon rib+strip waveguide platform

Timo Aalto; Mikko Harjanne; Matteo Cherchi

doi:10.1117/12.2234588

13 May 2016 VTT's micron-scale silicon rib+strip waveguide platform

Timo Aalto, Mikko Harjanne, Matteo Cherchi

Proceedings Volume 9891, Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits V; 98911G (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234588
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2016, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Silicon rib waveguides enable single-mode (SM) operation even with the combination of multi-micron core dimensions and high refractive index contrast. In such large waveguides the optical mode field is almost completely confined inside the Si core, which leads to small propagation losses and small polarization dependency. The unique SM condition of the rib waveguide also enables the use of an ultra-wide wavelength range, for example from 1.2 to <1.7 μm, without sacrificing either SM operation or low propagation loss. This makes micron-scale Si waveguides particularly well-suited for spectroscopy and extensive wavelength division multiplexing. However, rib waveguides require large bending radii, which lead to large circuit sizes. There are two solutions for this. So-called Euler bends in Si strip waveguides enable low-loss bends down to 1 μm bending radius with less than 0.1 dB/90° loss for both polarizations. Another alternative is a total-internal reflection mirror that can have loss as low as 0.1 dB for both polarizations in either strip or rib waveguides. The excitation of higher order modes in large strip waveguides is avoided by using adiabatic rib-strip converters and low-loss components. With rib and strip waveguides it is possible to reach a unique combination of low loss, extremely small footprint, small polarization dependency, ultra-wide bandwidth and tolerance to high optical powers.

Citation Download Citation

Timo Aalto, Mikko Harjanne, and Matteo Cherchi "VTT's micron-scale silicon rib+strip waveguide platform", Proc. SPIE 9891, Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits V, 98911G (13 May 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234588

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available