Numerical simulation of low loss silicon photonic wire waveguide with multiple cladding layers

A different silicon photonic wire waveguide is proposed, which uses multiple thin cladding layers in order to reduce the index contrast between core and cladding interface. The reduced index contrast in the proposed waveguide has led to reduction in the scattering losses by 37% as compared to silicon wire waveguide for 400 nm × 220 nm waveguide dimension. The proposed waveguide has shown significant reduction in bending losses. It offers the bending loss of 0.0118 dB at the radius of 1 μm and 0.0063 dB for a radius of 2 μm at 1.55 μm wavelength as compared to 0.086 and 0.013 dB at the radius of 1 and 2 μm, respectively, offered by silicon photonic wire waveguide at 1.5 μm wavelength. The use of polymer material as top cladding layer resulted in decreasing the sensitivity of effective index against temperature for the designed waveguide by a factor of 2 as compared to silicon wire waveguide.     

Finite-depth and intrinsic losses in vertically etched two-dimensional photonic crystals

We address the issue of out-of-plane losses in two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PC) etched through a GaAs monomode waveguide clad with standard GaAlAs alloys. We correlate experimental transmission of PCs with two kinds of loss simulation results. The first kind is 2D and introduces an ad hoc imaginary index in the air holes to account for the losses [see (Benisty et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 532, 2000)]. The second kind is a novel exact three-dimensional calculation inspired by grating-Fourier analysis that provides quantitatively unprecedented agreement with experimental measurements taking into account hole depth as a limiting parameter. We conclude that, in revision to the conclusions of the above reference, the experimental losses are not the intrinsic ones, being larger by a factor of 5 to 10 due to insufficient hole depth. The transition occurs at a critical etch depth shown to be here around 700 nm. We thus predict, for holes deeper than 700 nm, much improved crystals with very low transmission losses and microresonators with ultra-high quality factors.     

Optical waveguide structure for an all-optical switch based on intersubband transitions in InGaAs/AlAsSb quantum wells

A vertical slab waveguide design for an all-optical switch based on intersubband transitions in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown coupled double InGaAs/AlAsSb quantum well (QW) structures is presented. We propose a waveguide with two surrounding high refractive index InGaAsP guiding layers, which confine the optical mode in the low refractive index QW region and thus enable light guiding with low contrast InP cladding layers. We investigate the proposed concept by means of 1D simulations of several waveguide configurations. We confirm its validity by fabricating deeply etched waveguiding structures using either wet- or dry-etching technologies. Optical losses as low as 13.5 dB cm(-1) and 12.8 dB cm(-1) were measured for TM- and TE-polarized light, respectively.     

光子晶体光纤的导波模式与色散特性

利用有效折射率方法基于标量近似理论对光子晶体光纤的传播模式和色散特性进行了数值模 拟，发现通过调节光纤包层的空气填充率或包层空气穴节距及其有效芯径可以在很宽的波长 范围实现单模传播，可以设计零色散波长小于1.27μm的光子晶体光纤和在较宽的波段接近 于零色散的色散平坦光纤，以及具有较大的正常色散值的色散补偿光纤. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 有效折射率 标量近似 导波模式     

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.     

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.     

Roughness losses and volume-current methods in photonic-crystal waveguides

We present predicted relative scattering losses from sidewall roughness in a strip waveguide compared to an identical waveguide surrounded by a photonic crystal with a complete or incomplete gap in both 2d and 3d. To do so, we develop a new semi-analytical extension of the classic “volume-current method” (Green’s functions with a Born approximation), correcting a longstanding limitation of such methods to low-index contrast systems (the classic method may be off by an order of magnitude in high-contrast systems). The resulting loss predictions show that even incomplete gap structures such as photonic-crystal slabs should, with proper design, be able to reduce losses by a factor of two compared to an identical strip waveguide; however, incautious design can lead to increased losses in the photonic-crystal system, a phenomena that we explain in terms of the band structure of the unperturbed crystal.     

Silica-air photonic crystal fiber design that permits waveguiding by a true photonic bandgap effect

A theoretical investigation of a novel type of optical fiber is presented. The operation of the fiber relies entirely on wave guidance through the photonic bandgap effect and not on total internal reflection, thereby distinguishing that fiber from all other known fibers, including recently studied photonic crystal fibers. The novel fiber has a central low-index core region and a cladding consisting of a silica background material with air holes situated within a honeycomb lattice structure. We show the existence of photonic bandgaps for the silica-air cladding structure and demonstrate how light can be guided at the central low-index core region for a well-defined frequency that falls inside the photonic bandgap region of the cladding structure.     

Dispersionless slow light by photonic crystal slab waveguide with innermost elliptical air holes

We report a low-loss photonic crystal slab waveguide formed by deforming the innermost circle air holes in the conventional photonic crystal slab waveguide into elliptical ones. We obtain the photonic bands and group index of guided modes in this photonic crystal waveguide by guided-mode expansion method and investigate the dependence of photonic bands and group index of guided modes on the parameters of the innermost elliptical air holes. The group velocity and group velocity dispersion of this waveguide strongly depend on the innermost elliptical air holes. Photonic crystal slab waveguide with the optimum innermost elliptical air holes possesses a wider single mode region below the light line, in which light can easily propagate without intrinsic loss. At the same time, the guided mode supported by this waveguide has nearly constant group velocity and vanishing group velocity dispersion in a 3-5 nm bandwidth.     

Analysis of vertical coupling between a 2D photonic crystal cavity and a hydrogenated-amorphous-silicon-wire waveguide

We present an efficient means of light extraction from two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PC) cavities with SiO₂ cladding. We propose a vertically coupled system consisting of a 2D PC cavity and a hydrogenated-amorphous-silicon (a-Si:H)-wire waveguide, which we theoretically investigate using the 3D finite-difference time-domain method. Light can be extracted with an efficiency of greater than 95% to both output ports of the a-Si:H-wire waveguide or extracted with an efficiency of greater than 90% to a single output port of the a-Si:H-wire waveguide with a reflector.     

Focusing of light by negative refraction in a photonic crystal slab superlens on silicon-on-insulator substrate

We experimentally demonstrate the light focusing by negative refraction in a photonic crystal slab superlens at wavelengths lambda of 1.26-1.42 microm. The photonic crystal slab was fabricated on silicon-on-insulator substrate with an interface structure optimized for low reflection and diffraction losses. The light focusing in the photonic crystal slab was clearly observed through the intentional out-of-plane radiation or scattering of guided light in the slab. The minimum focused spot width was limited to 1.8 microm(1.4 lambda) owing to aberrations. The focusing characteristics were in good agreement with those obtained from photonic band and finite-difference time-domain analyses.     

Loss and dispersion tailoring in 1D photonics band gap Bragg reflection waveguides: finite chirped claddings as a design tool

We exploit a simple and accurate matrix method to analyze the effects of introducing a linear chirp either in thickness or in refractive index of the cladding layers on the propagation characteristics (loss and dispersion) of 1D photonic band gap planar Bragg reflection waveguides (BRWs). We show that an appropriate chirp in the otherwise periodic claddings of finite extent BRWs could be gainfully exploited to tailor its leakage loss and waveguide dispersion features. In particular, we theoretically demonstrate that for some reported sample BRWs, leakage loss and waveguide dispersion could be significantly reduced by a factor of 30–50 and by about two orders of magnitude, respectively as compared to un-chirped BRWs. Furthermore, we also show that in contrast to un-chirped BRWs, how chirped BRWs could be designed with attractive feature like much less number of cladding layers and nearly wavelength independent losses. Our analysis and proposal should serve as a useful design tool to tailor the propagation characteristics of BRWs.     

Multi-layer cladding leaky planar waveguide for high-power applications

We design a multi-layer cladding large-core planar waveguide that supports a single guided mode. The waveguide works on the principle of higher-order mode discrimination. The cladding of the waveguide is formed by alternate low- and high- index regions, which helps leaking out of higher-order modes while retaining the fundamental mode over the entire length of the waveguide. The structure is analyzed by the transfer-matrix method and the leakage losses of the modes have been calculated. We show that a waveguide formed in silica with numerical aperture 0.24 and core width 10 μm can be designed to exhibit single-mode operation at 1550-nm wavelength. Such a structure should find applications in high-power planar waveguide lasers and amplifiers.     

A theoretical study of the modal dispersion characteristics of an annular circular waveguide with helical winding as the outer cladding

In this present communication, we introduce a new type of annular optical waveguide whose outer cladding is made of sheath helix. The sheath helix is made up of the dielectric material of lower refractive index than the core materials. Using vector approach, the general characteristic equation for the proposed waveguide has been derived. The modal dispersion characteristics for the lowest-order modes for different pitch angles are determined and analyzed. We observe that there is no effect of pitch angles on dispersion curve nearly up to 89° but drastic change is observed at 90° and above pitch angle. On comparison of helically inner cladded annular circular waveguide, we have found that there is not the existence of the negative dispersion curve and photonic band gap in the helically outer cladded annular circular waveguide. It means only the inner cladding is responsible for the negative dispersion as well as photonic band gap. There is no effect of the outer cladding.     

Wideband and low dispersion slow light in slotted photonic crystal waveguide

We present a procedure to generate wideband and low dispersion slow light in slotted photonic crystal waveguide. By shifting the first and second rows of air holes of slotted photonic crystal waveguide, the bandwidth of slow light can be increased, with small group velocity dispersion. Using 2D plane wave expansion method, we numerically demonstrate slow light with the nearly constant group indices of 23, 42, and 54 over 17.6 nm, 6.7 nm and 3.3 nm bandwidth, respectively. The maximal normalized delay-bandwidth product is 0.26. From the fabrication's point of review, shifting the position of holes is easier to be controlled technically than changing the diameters of air holes. In addition, our simulations suggest this design is tolerant to deviation for positions of the first two rows of air holes. Therefore, the proposed approach decreases the dependence on the fabrication accuracy.     

Single mode lasers based on monolithic integration of ridge waveguides with 2D photonic crystal waveguides

The monolithic combination of active light sources with photonic crystal (PC) waveguide components is a key building block for future highly integrated photonic circuits. We demonstrate the coupling of light from an InGaAs/AlGaAs ridge waveguide laser to a monolithically integrated 2D PC waveguide. The PC guide is formed by removing three or five rows in a triangular lattice of air rods etched into the semiconductor. A tapered ridge waveguide geometry is demonstrated to improve coupling efficiency, so that maximum output powers of up to 10 mW from the PC waveguide are achieved. The resulting coupled cavity laser shows single mode emission with side mode suppression ratios > 35 dB over a broad range of injection currents.     

高品质因子和高传输效率的二维光子晶体耦合腔波导研究

基于时域有限差分方法,通过仿真计算设计了一种具有较高品质因子和传输效率的二维光子晶体耦合腔波导结构。通过改变二维光子晶体波导微腔结构中隔绝波导与微腔的空气孔的半径和数量,在获得近似90%的传输效率的同时,使得品质因子达到了8.20×104。为了使品质因子在大幅度提高的同时,传输效率只有小幅度的降低,在波导微腔结构中引入了链式微腔。将链式微腔结构与传统的波导微腔结构相结合,使这种新形式的耦合腔结构的品质因子提高了1个数量级,传输效率仅下降了约40%。     

雪花形晶芯光子晶体光纤

设计一种新型光子晶体光纤，可在300 nm带宽范围内实现近零超平坦色散特性.光纤端面上所有空气孔按照通常的三角形规则均匀排列，中央位置十三个排列成雪花形的空气孔小于其它空气孔，这些孔共同构成光纤的纤芯.这类晶芯型光子晶体光纤与传统光子晶体光纤相比具有较大的模场面积，尤其是，通过最佳化匹配晶芯和包层中的空气孔大小可以在300 nm带宽范围内实现超平坦化色散特性，甚至可得到近零色散的平坦化色散曲线。尽管光纤的晶芯为雪花状，但近场很快会演化为类高斯型场分布.     

Investigation of all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with low losses in low-order bandgaps

We report synoptically an investigation of design, fabrication and characterization of a new all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. By introducing an index depressed layer around a high index core in every unit cell of photonic crystal cladding, a novel all-solid bandgap fiber is predicted to obtain low confinement and bend losses within low-order bandgaps. After optimizing the structure parameters, we fabricate a batch of rods used for cladding cells, select a pure-silica rod for core cell and an inner-hexagonal jacket tube. We demonstrate an all-solid bandgap fiber with the transmission loss as low as 2 dB/km at 1,310 nm and a bandwidth of over 700 nm within the first bandgap. The guiding properties are also measured, respectively, such as transmission spectrum, attenuation spectrum, bend loss, mode field intensity profile, and chromatic dispersion.     

Diatoms as living photonic crystals

We present an analysis of the optical structure of a representative diatom, Coscinodiscus granii. The silica cell wall can be regarded as a photonic crystal slab waveguide with moderate refractive-index contrast. In a cell, at least two different patterns are found: a hexagonal array of pores with a large lattice constant in the valve, and a square array of holes with a small lattice constant in the girdle. It is demonstrated that light can be coupled into the waveguide and that there are some photonic resonances in the visible spectral range, which have been determined by band-structure calculations. PACS 42.70.Qs; 87.17.-d