Design and analysis of an integrated antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide refractive-index sensor

An integrated optical waveguide refractometer, believed to be novel, is presented. The sensor is based on an antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide and uses the strong attenuation dependence on the refractive index of antiresonant cladding layers as the sensing principle. The theory and the operation of the sensor are discussed in terms of one- and two-dimensional geometry. The theoretical predictions and numerical analysis show that a versatile sensor can be realized. The design trade-offs are discussed, and the sensitivity and measurement range are presented.     

Coupling-loss reduction of a vertically coupled microring resonator filter by spot-size-matched busline waveguides

To improve the input-output coupling loss of a vertically coupled microring resonator filter, we fabricated microring resonators on an antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) with a large spot size and on the rectangular busline waveguide with a spot-size transformer. The spot size and the tapered structure were optimally designed from the viewpoint of spot-size matching to single-mode fibers and the reduction of radiation loss. Clear dropping responses were demonstrated for the ARROW-based microring resonator filters, and the coupling loss was successfully reduced by 22 dB.     

Compact spot-size converters with fiber-matched antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides

We propose a concept for InGaAsP-InP 1.55-microm lasers integrated with spot-size converters based on modal interference between the modes of the structure formed by an active waveguide and an underlying fiber-matched antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide. Simulation results show that the spot-size converters exhibit low transformation loss, and narrowed far-field emission patterns (10 degrees x 20 degrees) and reduce the coupling loss to standard single-mode fibers from 8 to 2.6 dB over lengths approximately 200 microm shorter than the adiabatic concept. A tolerant design to fabrication variations is also proposed, which could be realized by standard processing techniques.     

Analysis of antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide gratings by use of the method of lines

The modal spectral response of an antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) with periodic corrugations or grating is calculated for both shallow and deep gratings with the Method of Lines. The effect of the ARROW layer thickness and the grating depth on the spectral response is studied. It is found that when the ARROW-layer thickness is close to resonance, the ripples in the reflection spectra become smooth and the peak reflectivity drops. This is attributed to the large increase in the leakage loss of the ARROW waveguide near resonance. The ARROW grating is characterized by modal reflectivity spectra, which exhibit a strong polarization discrimination property, in favor of the TE polarization.     

Characterization of antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide devices by scanning near-field optical microscopy

Silicon-based antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) devices were studied by means of a scanning near-field optical microscope. Various structures such as a Y junction of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a directional optical coupler were characterized, showing the propagation of the light inside the devices simultaneously with the topography. Scattering on the splitting point of the Y junction was shown, as well as a partial coupling of the light between the two branches of the coupler. Measurements on the decay length of the evanescent field were also performed to study the use of the ARROW waveguide for sensor purposes.     

Design, fabrication, and characterization of Si-based ARROW photonic crystal bend waveguides and power splitters

Silicon-based (Si-based) photonic crystal waveguide based on antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW PCW) structures consisting of 60° bends and Y-branch power splitters were designed and first efficiently fabricated and characterized. The ARROW structure has a relatively large core size suitable for efficient coupling with a single-mode fiber. Simple capsule-shaped topography defects at 60° photonic crystal (PC) bend corners and Y-branch PC power splitters were used for increasing the broadband light transmission. In the preliminary measurements, the propagation losses of the ARROW PC straight waveguides lower than 2 dB/mm with a long length of 1500?μm were achieved. The average bend loss of 60° PC bend waveguides was lower than 3 dB/bend. For the Y-branch PC power splitters, the average power imbalance was lower than 0.6?dB. The results show that our fabricated Si-based ARROW PCWs with 60° bends and Y-branch structures can provide good light transmission and power-splitting ability.     

Planar antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides as integrated optical refractometer

This paper reports on an integrated refractometer sensor, useful for measuring chemical quantities, based on antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs). We show that, by a suitable design, the attenuation in ARROW waveguides can strongly depend on the refractive index of the superstrate layer. We use this property to design and realize an integrated refractometer. The proposed sensor structure is unique in that it consists in the ARROW waveguide itself acting like a vertical interferometer. The device is fabricated using standard silicon technology fully compatible with bipolar and CMOS integrated circuit process. The measurement results show a sensing resolution of /spl Delta/n = 6e - 4 when used in a solution with a refractive index of 1.4600.     

Accurate first-order leaky-wave analysis of antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides

We present a closed-form approximation for estimating both the field distribution and complex propagating constant of the antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) based on a first-order leaky-mode analysis. The formula was obtained from a novel coupled-electric-coupled-magnetic matrix method and provides six significant figures of the real part of the propagation constant beta of a SiO2/TiO2/SiO2/Si ARROW with an 8-microm core. The accuracy for the quantity of the imaginary part of beta is greater than 98.4% for the TE0 mode and 99.3% for TM0. The approximate values for field components are 96.1% accurate. In addition, a slight absorption by the substrate will result in modification of the initial improper leaky-mode behavior, which grows exponentially in the substrate, yielding a proper solution.     

Multilayer ARROW channel waveguide for evanescent field enhancement in low-index media

A multilayer antiresonance reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) channel waveguide geometry, believed to be novel, is proposed for enhancing the evanescent field in low-index materials. The finite-difference method is used in the analysis of the structure. The fraction of the fundamental TE-like-mode power in the low-index material (air) is used as a measure of the evanescent field enhancement. The calculated results suggest that the evanescent field of the fundamental TE-like mode can be significantly increased in air while the low modal loss that characterizes the leaky nature of the structure is maintained. The results also suggest that a semivectorial approach to this problem is adequate for analysis of the proposed waveguide structure.     

低损耗、高消光比的Z切钛扩散铌酸锂调制器

为了获得低损耗、高消光比的光波导电光调制器,以钛扩散铌酸锂( Ti: LiNbO3 )波导折射率的分布和光波导的优化设计为基础,利用有限差分光束传播法( FD-BPM )和点匹配法,从理论上给出了一种光损耗为-0.53dB、消光比为30dB的Z切钛扩散铌酸锂调制器。并且,在10Gbit/s的系统中对其进行了测试,取得了在120 km长的光纤上传输无误码的效果和较清晰的眼图。     

Fabrication of channel waveguides from sol-gel-processed polyvinylpyrrolidone/ SiO(2) composite materials

Sol-gel-processed composite materials of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and SiO(2) were studied for optical waveguide applications. PVP is a polymer that can be crosslinked, so it is expected to have high thermal stability after crosslinking. However, thermal crosslinking and thermal decomposition of pure PVP take place around the same temperature, 200 °C, therefore pure PVP had a high optical propagation loss as a result of the absorption of the decomposed molecules after crosslinking. The incorporation of sol-gel-processed SiO(2) prevented the thermal decomposition of PVP and provided remarkably low optical propagation losses. The PVP/SiO(2)composite material also produced thick (>2-μm) crack-free films when the PVP concentration was 50% or higher. An optical propagation loss of 0.2 dB/cm was achieved at 633 nm in the 50% PVP/SiO(2) composite planar waveguide. Several aspects of the thermal stability of the waveguides were evaluated. The slab waveguide was then used for fabrication of channel waveguides with a selective laser-densification technique. This technique used metal lines fabricated with photolithography on the slab waveguide as a light absorbent, and these metal lines were heated by an Ar laser. The resultant channel waveguide had an optical propagation loss of 0.9 dB/ cm at 633 nm. This technique provides lower absorption loss and scattering loss compared with the direct laser-densification technique, which uses UV lasers, and produces narrow waveguides that are difficult to fabricate with a CO(2) laser.     

聚合物SiON波导的可变光衰减器性能研究

利用弯曲聚合物SiON波导设计了一种新型可变光衰减器,该器件由输入、输出直波导,S型的弯曲波导,以及在聚合物SiON波导弯曲部位镀上的电极组成.通过外加电场的作用来调节波导覆盖层的折射率,从而达到衰减波导中光能量的目的.现采用光束传播法(BPM)对设计的新型光衰减器进行了仿真设计,结果表明,设计的光衰减器具有大的动态可调衰减范围(45.3 dB),低的插入损耗(0.8 dB).     

Low-loss coupler between fiber and waveguide based on silicon-on-insulator slot waveguides

We propose a novel optical fiber-to-waveguide coupler for integrated optical circuits. The proper materials and structural parameters of the coupler, which is based on a slot waveguide, are carefully analyzed using a full-vectorial three-dimensional mode solver. Because the effective refractive index of the mode in a silicon-on-insulator-based slot waveguide can be extremely close to that of the fiber, a highly efficient fiber-to-waveguide coupling application can be realized. For a TE-like mode, the calculated minimum mismatch loss is approximately 1.8 dB at 1550 nm, and the mode conversion loss can be less than 0.5 dB. The discussion of the present state of the art is also involved. The proposed coupler can be used in chip-to-chip communication.     

Fabrication and analysis of a low-loss in-fiber active polymer waveguide

We present a method for fabricating an in-fiber electro-optic polymer waveguide within a D-shaped optical fiber. A combined process of selective chemical etching and spin coating creates a 2-cm in-fiber poly(methyl methacrylate)-DR1 dye polymer waveguide section with an overall insertion loss of micro 1.6 dB at 1550 nm. Numerical simulations show that, for in-fiber polymer waveguides to have low loss, the polymer layer's thickness must be kept below a certain value so that it will not support slab waveguide modes. Long transition regions between the unetched fiber and the polymer waveguide section also reduce loss. We analyze the efficiency of an in-fiber polymer waveguide by simulating its theoretical performance as an electro-optic modulator.     

Optical waveguides on polysilicon-on-insulator

Optical waveguide structures have been fabricated on polysilicon-on-insulator. Structural and optical properties of the waveguides are studied by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission measurements. Reasons for the waveguide loss are discussed. It is found that surface roughness can be responsible for a waveguide loss of more than 60 dB cm^–1 and that additional loss mechanisms probably exist. Methods of smoothing the surface are discussed.     

1.54-microm TM-mode waveguide optical isolator based on the nonreciprocal-loss phenomenon: device design to reduce insertion loss

We developed a 1.5-microm band TM-mode waveguide optical isolator that makes use of the nonreciprocal-loss phenomenon. The device was designed to operate in a single mode and consists of an InGaAlAs/InP ridge-waveguide optical amplifier covered with a ferromagnetic MnAs layer. The combination of the optical waveguide and the magnetized ferromagnetic metal layer produces a magneto-optic effect called the nonreciprocal-loss phenomenon--a phenomenon in which the propagation loss of light is larger in backward propagation than it is in forward propagation. We propose the guiding design principle for the structure of the device and determine the optimized structure with the aid of electromagnetic simulation using the finite-difference method. On the basis of the results, we fabricated a prototype device and evaluated its operation. The device showed an isolation ratio of 7.2 dB/mm at a wavelength from 1.53 to 1.55 microm. Our waveguide isolator can be monolithically integrated with other waveguide-based optical devices on an InP substrate.     

The design of evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensors

An evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensor with a multilayer structure consisting of a dielectric waveguide, a thin reflecting layer, and a glass substrate illuminated under the Kretschmann configuration operates as a sensor that is capable of detecting modifications in the dielectric environment near the waveguide surface with superior sensitivity by measuring the change in reflectivity. The sensitivity of the sensor is strongly dependent on the optical constants of the reflecting layer. Numerical simulations show that a sensor having a reflecting layer with a small value of the real part of the complex refractive index shows a good sensitivity for both S-?and P-polarized light. Materials with values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index of >4 and ～0.5, respectively, are suitable for use as reflecting layers when S-polarized light excites only the lowest order waveguide mode. The simulations were experimentally confirmed using sensors with Au, Cu, Cr, W, a-Si, or Ge reflecting layers deposited by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering by observation of specific adsorption of streptavidin on biotinyl groups using an S-polarized laser beam with a wavelength of 632.8?nm. From the results, guidelines are given for the fabrication of preferred sensor configurations.     

低损耗离子交换玻璃基光波导制备与分析

考虑到离子交换和离子扩散工艺的特殊要求, 设计并熔制了适合于离子交换工艺的硅酸盐玻璃材料SiO₂-B₂O₃-Al₂O₃-R’O-R₂O（R’=Ca, Mg; R=Na, K）. 采用Ag⁺/Na⁺熔盐离子交换和电场辅助离子扩散工艺在这种玻璃材料基片上获得了掩埋式条形光波导. 光学显微镜和电子探针分析表明高折射率的Ag⁺扩散区位于玻璃基片表面以下约10μm处, 形成光波导的芯部. 光波导芯部尺寸约为8μm×8μm, 与单模光纤芯径尺寸相当, 保证了较低的光纤耦合损耗. 对光波导的测量结果得出：在波长为1.5μm处条形光波导的传输损耗约为0.1dB/cm, 与单模光纤的耦合损耗约为0.2~0.3dB. 条形光波导的传输损耗与材料本身的损耗接近, 表现出掩埋式光波导的低损耗特征. 分析表明, 经过进一步优化, 这种光波导制备技术可用于低损耗光波导器件的制作.     

Magneto-optical non-reciprocal devices in silicon photonics

Silicon waveguide optical non-reciprocal devices based on the magneto-optical effect are reviewed. The non-reciprocal phase shift caused by the first-order magneto-optical effect is effective in realizing optical non-reciprocal devices in silicon waveguide platforms. In a silicon-on-insulator waveguide, the low refractive index of the buried oxide layer enhances the magneto-optical phase shift, which reduces the device footprints. A surface activated direct bonding technique was developed to integrate a magneto-optical garnet crystal on the silicon waveguides. A silicon waveguide optical isolator based on the magneto-optical phase shift was demonstrated with an optical isolation of 30 dB and insertion loss of 13 dB at a wavelength of 1548 nm. Furthermore, a four port optical circulator was demonstrated with maximum isolations of 15.3 and 9.3 dB in cross and bar ports, respectively, at a wavelength of 1531 nm.     

玻璃基掩埋式光波导堆栈的制作与表征

在硅酸盐光学玻璃基片上制作了光波导堆栈, 这种光波导堆栈通过Ag⁺/Na⁺熔盐离子交换和电场辅助离子扩散技术顺次制作了两层掩埋式光波导. 对光波导堆栈的横截面显微结构进行了观察, 并对堆栈中两层波导的损耗特性进行了测试. 所获得的光波导堆栈中的上、下两层波导芯部分别位于玻璃表面以下14和35 μm处; 上层光波导芯部尺寸约为12 μm×7 μm; 下层光波导芯部尺寸约为9 μm×8 μm. 通光测试显示两层波导在1.55 μm工作波长下均为单模光波导, 且两者之间没有相互耦合. 损耗测试分析结果显示: 堆栈中两层光波导的传输损耗均约为0.12 dB/cm,与单模光纤之间的耦合损耗分别为0.78和0.73 dB. 分析表明, 这种光波导堆栈在玻璃基集成光芯片的高密度集成方面具有很好的应用前景.