A new design for ultracompact multimode interference-based 2 x 2 couplers

Author

Levy, David S. ; Scarmozzino, Robert ; Li, York M. ; Osgood, Richard M., Jr.

Author_Institution

Microelectron. Sci. Lab., Columbia Univ., New York, NY, USA

Volume

10

Issue

1

fYear

1998

Firstpage

96

Lastpage

98

Abstract

We introduce here a new multimode interference-based 3-dB coupler that has a substantially smaller device geometry than conventional multimode interference structures. This new structure is based on a special multimode region shape and an appropriate launching technique which aids in circumventing the proximity limitations. Simulations show this structure can provide a decrease of a factor of three or more in the device size of the smallest 3-dB MMI coupler made to date.

Keywords

geometry; integrated optics; light interference; optical couplers; optical design techniques; optical waveguide theory; MMI coupler; device geometry; device size; launching technique; multimode interference structures; multimode region shape; proximity limitations; ultracompact multimode interference-based 2/spl times/2 coupler design; Circuit simulation; Couplers; Geometry; Integrated optics; Interference; Optical imaging; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Shape; Waveguide discontinuities;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.651120

Filename

651120