Field expulsion and reconfiguration in polaritonic photonic crystals

We uncover a rich set of optical phenomena stemming from the incorporation of polar materials exhibiting transverse phonon polariton excitations into a photonic crystal structure. We identify in the frequency spectrum two regimes in which the dielectric response of the polaritonic medium can induce extreme localization of the electromagnetic energy. Our analysis of the effect of polarization and the interaction between the polariton and photonic band gaps on the Bloch states leads to a pair of mechanisms for sensitive frequency-controlled relocation and/or reconfiguration of the fields.     

The complex Jacobi iterative method for non-paraxial beam propagation in nonlinear optical waveguides

The recently introduced beam propagation method using complex Jacobi iteration adapted for modeling of non-paraxial beam propagation in nonlinear optical waveguides is presented in this paper. The beam propagation equation is based on our recently proposed modified Padé(1,1) approximant operator. The resulting approach is very efficient and well-suited for large structures with long propagation paths.     

Optical modelling of photonic crystals and VCSELs using eigenmode expansion and perfectly matched layers

We present a modelling approach for photonic crystal structures and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs). This method is based on vectorial eigenmode expansion combined with perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions. Compared to other methods, a relatively small computational effort is required, while at the same time accurate results are obtained, even in the presence of strong scattering and diffraction losses.     

Compact efficient broadband grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides

We have designed a high-efficiency broadband grating coupler for coupling between silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides and optical fibers. The grating is only 13 microm long and 12 microm wide, and the size of the grooves is optimized numerically. For TE polarization the coupling loss to single-mode fiber is below 1 dB over a 35-nm wavelength range when using SOI with a two-pair bottom reflector. The tolerances to fabrication errors are also calculated.     

Analysis and design of efficient coupling in photonic crystal circuits

A rigorous analysis and design of efficient coupling from photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides into conventional dielectric waveguides is reported. Closed-form expressions for the reflection and transmission matrices that completely characterize the scattering that occurs at the interface are derived based on an eigenmode expansion technique and a Bloch basis. Analytic expressions are used to analyze the reflection into PhC waveguides. We obtain that negligible reflection can be achieved by choosing a certain interface within a PhC unit cell. Furthermore, analytic expressions are used to design a novel and compact coupler structure in order to achieve high coupling efficiency when broad dielectric waveguides are considered. Thereby, transmission efficiencies near 100 from the fundamental guided Bloch mode into the fundamental waveguide mode are achieved.     

Advanced boundary conditions for eigenmode expansion models

In order to realise the full potential of eigenmode expansion models, advanced boundary conditions are required that can absorb the radiation impinging on the walls of the discretisation volume. In this paper, we will discuss and compare a number of these boundary conditions, like perfectly matched layers (PMLs), open (leaky mode) boundary conditions and transparent boundary conditions (TBCs). We will also introduce the case of PMLs with infinite absorption and discuss its relation to leaky mode expansion, leading to a deeper insight into the physics of PML.     

Silicon photonic sensors incorporated in a digital microfluidic system

Label-free biosensing with silicon nanophotonic microring resonator sensors has proven to be an excellent sensing technique for achieving high-throughput and high sensitivity, comparing favorably with other labeled and label-free sensing techniques. However, as in any biosensing platform, silicon nanophotonic microring resonator sensors require a fluidic component which allows the continuous delivery of the sample to the sensor surface. This component is typically based on microchannels in polydimethylsiloxane or other materials, which add cost and complexity to the system. The use of microdroplets in a digital microfluidic system, instead of continuous flows, is one of the recent trends in the field, where microliter- to picoliter-sized droplets are generated, transported, mixed, and split, thereby creating miniaturized reaction chambers which can be controlled individually in time and space. This avoids cross talk between samples or reagents and allows fluid plugs to be manipulated on reconfigurable paths, which cannot be achieved using the more established and more complex technology of microfluidic channels where droplets are controlled in series. It has great potential for high-throughput liquid handling, while avoiding on-chip cross-contamination. We present the integration of two miniaturized technologies: label-free silicon nanophotonic microring resonator sensors and digital microfluidics, providing an alternative to the typical microfluidic system based on microchannels. The performance of this combined system is demonstrated by performing proof-of-principle measurements of glucose, sodium chloride, and ethanol concentrations. These results show that multiplexed real-time detection and analysis, great flexibility, and portability make the combination of these technologies an ideal platform for easy and fast use in any laboratory.

Bragg waveguide grating as a 1D photonic band gap structure: COST 268 modelling task

Modal reflection, transmission and loss of deeply etched Bragg waveguide gratings were modelled by six European laboratories using independently developed two-dimensional (2D) numerical codes based on four different methods, with very good mutual agreement. It was found that (rather weak) material dispersion of the SiO₂/Si₃N₄ system does not significantly affect the results. The existence of lossless Floquet–Bloch modes in deeply etched gratings was confirmed. Based on reliable numerical results, the physical origin of out-of-plane losses of 1D or 2D photonic band gap structures in slab waveguides is briefly discussed.     

Self-phase modulation in slow-wave structures: A comparative numerical analysis

Self-phase modulation effects in 1D optical slow-wave structures made of Fabry–Pérot cavities coupled by Distributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) are discussed. The nonlinear response of the structure is investigated by a comparative analysis of several numerical methods operating either in time or frequency-domain. Time-domain methods include two Finite-Difference Time-Domain approaches, respectively, optimized to compensate for numerical dispersion and to model nonlinearity at any order. In the frequency-domain an efficient method based on a numerical integration of Maxwell’s equations and an iterative nonlinear extension of the Eigenmode Expansion method are discussed. A Nonlinear Equivalent Circuit of DBRs is also presented as a useful model to reduce computational efforts. Numerical results show that bistable effects and self-pulsing phenomena can occur when either the optical power or the number of coupled cavities of the structure are sufficiently increased.