Coupled mode analysis of light modulation in dielectric waveguides

A detailed analysis of electrooptic light modulation in optical waveguides is presented. Several important problems of a waveguide modulator, such as the difference of waveguide axes from crystalline electrooptic ones, the distribution of transverse and longitudinal field components of light modes, and the traveling-wave property of the modulating field, are discussed. The analysis is based on the coupled mode theory, regarding the modulation as the coupling among sidebands of unperturbed waveguide modes. The coupled mode equation is derived for the modulation in optical waveguides. It can be solved if the normal modes of the waveguide are given. Actually the equation is solved for the modulation in dielectric slab waveguides and the mechanism of modulation is discussed. The results of the analysis are applied to designing two types of waveguide modulators. In an example (10.6 μm modulator with a GaAs slab waveguide) a new efficient crystal orientation is found. The calculated phase retardation with this orientation is 0.13 rad/(V·cm) with a 1 μm thick slab. Another example of a 0.633 μm modulator using a LiTaO₃ crystal as a substrate is also described.     

The Design of Single Mode Large Cross-section Glass-based Waveguides for Photonic Integrated Circuits

This paper presents our recent simulation results and novel designs of single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Simulations were performed using an in-house Finite Difference (FD) based mode solver and the FD Beam propagation Method (FD-BPM). Our simulation results show that this innovative technology could provide a simplified means to couple optical energy efficiently between optical components in a single chip. This would provide the base for the future large-scale integration of optical components in PICs. The novel idea of using single mode large cross-section glass-based waveguides as an optical integration platform is an evolutionary innovative solution for the monolithic integration of optical components, in which the glass-based structures act both as waveguides and as an optical bench for integration. This allows easy and efficient optical coupling between optical components and optical fibres, removing costly and tedious alignment problems and considerably reducing optical coupling losses in PICs. We expect that the glass-based waveguide PICs technology will enable the emergence of a new generation of compact, reliable, high speed, and multifunctional devices.     

Irreversible coupling by use of dissipative optics

The time reversibility of optical propagation impedes the definite performance of many optical devices, such as couplers, polarization converters, etc. We suggest a novel concept in which we use media with loss and gain, thus breaking the time-reversal characteristics, to achieve a unidirectional optical mode interference and coupling, which is a desirable feature for light-wave circuits. Using a matched periodic modulation of both the index of refraction and loss (gain) of the medium, we implement a spatially single sideband perturbation, which breaks the symmetry to allow only a unidirectional energy transfer from mode m to mode n of the optical structure. We elaborate on this phenomenon in coupling between two modes of a multimode optical waveguide.     

Polymer optical waveguide based on integrated optics

The fabrication and characterization of refractive index profiles of multimode mode polymer optical waveguides is reported. Effect of annealing temperature on guided losses of polymer (polystyrene) thin film optical waveguide is also presented. Efficient coupling over a 110 nm spectral bandwidth was experimentally demonstrated with a prism-coupler designed to match the dispersion of a particular waveguide.     

Mode coupling between two connected multimode parabolic-index optical waveguides

Both a displacement of axis and a change in the refractive index distribution function cause mode coupling to occur between two multimode parabolic-index optical waveguides. This coupling is investigated by the coherent states method and the method of the dynamical symmetry group. Expressions for the mode coupling coefficients are obtained and their relationship to the Franck-Condon factors is emphasized. Recurrence relations for the mode overlap integrals and sum rules for the mode coupling coefficients are presented. An analogue of the Franck-Condon principle for the mode coupling coefficients is formulated. A simple geometric method for finding the most intensively coupled modes is also proposed.     

Optical limiting properties of nonlinear multimode waveguides

An experimental investigation of the transmission of multimode capillary waveguides with a nonlinear absorber in the core shows an enhanced nonlinear absorption relative to the same length of bulk material. The results are consistent with partial mode filling within the cores of the waveguides. This study confirms the promising optical limiting capabilities of multimode nonlinear waveguides and implies that the mode structure should be considered in the design and evaluation of capillary array optical limiters.     

Self-guiding multimode interference threshold switch

We propose a new passive optical thresholding device that combines the principles of multimode interference (MMI) with self-guiding. The multimode region is composed of a nonlinear optical material that will support a self-guided beam (i.e., a material with a positive Kerr nonlinearity). The device operates by switching between the MMI mode of operation and the self-guiding mode of operation, depending on the input light intensity. We describe the basic principles of a self-guiding MMI device, simulate the device, and discuss design issues associated with these optically controlled optical switches.     

Modeling of grating assisted standing wave,microresonators for filter applications in integrated optics

A wide, multimode segment of a dielectric optical waveguide, enclosed by Bragg reflectors and evanescently coupled to adjacent port waveguides, can constitute the cavity in an integrated optical microresonator. It turns out that the device can be described adequately in terms of an approximate coupled mode theory model which involves only a few guided modes as basis fields. By reasoning along the coupled mode model, we motivate a simple design strategy for the resonator device. Rigorous two dimensional mode expansion simulations are applied to verify the predictions of the approximate model. The results exemplify the specific spectral response of the standing wave resonators. As refinements we discuss the single resonance of a device with nonsymmetrically detuned Bragg reflectors, and the cascading of two Fabry–Perot cavities, where the coupling across an intermediate shorter grating region establishes a power transfer characteristic that is suitable for an add-drop filter.     

微环耦合谐振光波导中的色散控制模型与数值仿真

本文利用传输矩阵法得到了微环耦合谐振光波导的色散关系,讨论了耦合损耗、传输损耗及耦合系数对微环耦合谐振光波导色散的影响,改变耦合损耗、传输损耗及耦合系数可控制其色散曲线的形状、位置、以及带宽,色散曲线的变化及控制对微环耦合谐振光波导在滤波、光信号延迟及缓存等方面的应用有重要意义. 关键词： 光波导 微环光波导 传输矩阵法     

Experimental confirmation of matched bends

Modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first-order (leaky) mode has been experimentally investigated in high-index-contrast integrated-optical bent waveguides. The matched bend condition has been experimentally confirmed on cascaded bends, and the effect of both matched and unmatched bends on Y branches has been investigated. Good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results for both monomode and multimode waveguides is achieved. It is demonstrated that, in bent waveguides, the modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first (leaky) mode can be accurately controlled to avoid additional losses and transfer function impairments.     

甲烷光纤气体传感器的实验研究

本文首先对甲烷气体传感器的工作原理进行了较详细的分析,并在实验中论证了方案的可行性,比较了它优于传统传感器的特点,最后文中从理论上分析了该传感器的最小可探测压强。     

Optical waveguide fabrication and integration with a micro-mirror inside photosensitive glass by femtosecond laser direct writing

Photosensitive glass is a potentially important material for micro-fluidic devices that can be integrated with micro-optical components for biochemical analysis. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of optical waveguides inside glass by femtosecond laser direct writing. The influence of the laser parameters on the waveguide properties is investigated, and it is revealed that the waveguide mode can be well controlled. The single mode is achieved at a low writing energy, while the multimode is achieved with increasing energy. In spite of a longitudinally elongated elliptical shape of the cross-sectional profile, the far-field pattern of the single-mode waveguide shows an almost symmetric profile. The measured propagation loss and the coupling loss are evaluated to be ∼0.6 dB/cm and ∼1.6 dB at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, respectively, under the conditions of 1.0–2.0 μJ pulse energy and 200–500 μm/s scan speed. The increased optical loss is associated with a higher waveguide mode at higher writing energy. Furthermore, the integration of waveguides and a micromirror made of a hollow microplate inside the glass is demonstrated to bend the laser beam at an angle of 90° in a small chip. The bending loss is estimated to be smaller than 0.3 dB. PACS 42.62.-b; 42.82.Cr; 82.50.Pt; 42.79.Gn; 42.81.Qb     

Mode energy transformation between two connected multimode general square-law-index optical waveguides

A coherent states method is used to investigate the mode coupling coefficients in the most general buttjoint problem for two multimode general square-law-index optical waveguides, when two different waveguides with elliptical cross-sections are to be butt-jointed with axis displacement, tilt and some turning of symmetry axes with respect to each other. The explicit expressions for the mode coupling coefficients and recurrence relations for the mode overlap integrals are obtained; the sum rules for the mode coupling coefficients are formulated and a method of experimental data analysis is proposed for this general problem. The method of calculating mode coupling coefficients is proposed for the case of the butt-joint problem when the waveguide cross-sections are only partially overlapping and then it is used to investigate the influence of misalignment on mode power distribution and pulse dispersion in the second waveguide. The experimental data are compared and it is shown that the coupling coefficients obtained in square-law-index model can be used in dispersion calculations forα-profile fibres in the case when the valueα is not far from the valueα=2.     

Adiabatic transfer of surface plasmons in non-Hermitian graphene waveguides

We investigate the energy transfer of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) based on adiabatic passage in a non-Hermitian waveguide composed of three coupled graphene sheets. The SPPs can completely transfer between two outer waveguides via the adiabatic dark mode as the waveguides are lossless and the coupling length is long enough. However, the loss of graphene can lead to breakdown of adiabatic transfer schemes. By utilizing the coupled mode theory, we propose three approaches to cancel the nonadiabatic coupling by adding certain gain or loss in respect waveguides. Moreover, the coupling length of waveguide is remarkably decreased. The study may find interesting application in optical switches on a deep-subwavelength scale.     

Adiabatic mode multiplexer for evanescent-coupling-insensitive optical switching

A novel adiabatic mode multiplexer enables a 2 x 2 optical switch whose operation does not depend on accumulated phase due to evanescent coupling between waveguides. The adiabatic mode multiplexer has a negligible insertion loss over C+L bands and modal cross talk better than -40 dB for any polarization state. Mode multiplexing is achieved by adiabatic transition from the fundamental mode of the single-mode waveguide to the higher mode of the multimode waveguide. Experimental measurement results for a device realized in silica-on-silicon technology are presented. By directly measuring the nonadiabatic transition probability, we show that the adiabatic mode multiplexer operates in the Landau-Zener regime.     

Error analysis of two-wavelength absorption-based fibre-optic sensors

An error analysis of two-wavelength absorption-based fibre-optic sensors is presented in this paper. A general formulation to express the measurement error and the error induced by the instability of the light power input into the absorbing sample to be measured is derived. Using this formulation, two common and important errors in this type of sensor, temperature fluctuation of light sources and bending optical fibres, are numerically discussed as illustrative examples. The analyses can be applied to both transmission-type and reflection-type absorption-based fibre-optic sensors.     

Growth dynamics of Bragg gratings in multimode optical fibre

The spectrum of a Bragg grating in a multimode optical fiber can be controlled by the number of irradiation pulses during the writing procedure. Hence, a single mode grating can be fabrication readily within a multimode fiber. The width of the stop band of the grating can also be controlled by means of the number of irradiation pulses. A tilted grating leads to the coupling of core mode to cladding mode, and when the tilt is sufficiently large, eventually to radiation mode. In the case of small tilt, the grating spectrum is the sum of the core-core mode spectrum and the core-cladding mode spectrum.     

三平行光子晶体单模波导的耦合特性及其应用

将三光子晶体单模波导的相互耦合看成一个多模干涉系统.本征模的色散曲线相交或近于相交并出现简并模，简并模之间存在强烈耦合并导致模式的分布方式发生转变.多模干涉系统中，不同波长的光波能量在传输过程中由于相干而具有不同的空间输出行为，在近简并点处多模之间的相干解除，能流限制在原输入方向，不发生转移.三光子晶体单模光波导的这种特性可用来制作波分复用或解复用器件. 关键词： 光子晶体波导 简并模 多模干涉 波分复用或解复用     

基于时域有限差分法分析等离子波导和介质波导耦合

使用Rsoft软件中的时域有限差分模块Fullwave分析二维介质波导和等离子波导耦合特性,利用软件仿真耦合结构并自动计算出光在介质波导和等离子波导中传输的耦合效率,进而测绘耦合效率随波导尺寸和光波长的变化曲线图,发现MDM导波结构的缝隙宽度和光通信质量密切相关,在确定尺寸下,传输损耗随传输距离成指数衰减.根据分析得到的耦合效率变化规律发现介质波导和等离子波导间距最佳点都应设为15 nm,进而优化波导的几何结构参数后,可以将耦合效率提高到83%.     

InP基1×4多模干涉耦合器的设计与制作

在密集波分复用系统中,多波长DFB激光器阵列与多模干涉耦合器集成光源器件具有重要的应用前景.为了研制多波长集成光源中的宽带可用低损耗光耦合器,利用三维有限差分光束传播法仿真设计了一种具有强限制作用的InP/InGaAsP材料的多模干涉型耦合器.输入/输出端波导均采用楔形结构以降低多模干涉型耦合器的插入损耗,提高各个输出端口的出光平衡度.根据仿真结果,结合波导芯层为采用外延生长设备,采用反应离子刻蚀工艺制作了1×乘4多模干涉型耦合器.利用自动对准波导耦合测试系统对所制作器件的插入损耗和出光平衡度进行测量.测试结果表明,该器件在1 550 nm波长附近的40 nm带宽范围内获得了约2.6 dB的通带平坦度,在1 550 nm通信波长处,器件的插入损耗低于10 dB.