Exact modal analysis and optimization of N×N×1 cascaded waveguide structures with multimode guiding sections

Author

Thoen, Erik R. ; Molter, Lynne A. ; Donnelly, Joseph P.

Author_Institution

MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

Volume

33

Issue

8

fYear

1997

fDate

8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1299

Lastpage

1307

Abstract

Cascaded multimode interference waveguide devices are analyzed to predict their switching properties. The results obtained using an exact modal analysis of an infinite slab model of these structures are compared to those found using simple approximations. Using this model, design parameters for both 2×2×1 and 8×8×1 switching structures are optimized; robustness of the numerical optimization algorithm is discussed. Sensitivity of device transmission performance to lengths and widths of each of the multimode regions, phase shifts in the interconnect regions, and wavelength are presented for the optimized devices. The deviations of the multimode region lengths found using simple approximations from those found by optimizing the model are also presented

Keywords

optical couplers; optical losses; optical planar waveguides; optical switches; optical waveguide theory; optimisation; rib waveguides; sensitivity; 2×2×1 switching structures; 8×8×1 switching structures; N×N×1 cascaded waveguide structures; cascaded multimode interference waveguide devices; design parameters; device transmission performance; infinite slab model; interconnect region; modal analysis; multimode guiding sections; multimode region lengths; multimode regions; numerical optimization algorithm; optimization; phase shifts; switching properties; wavelength; Couplers; Design optimization; Interference; Modal analysis; Optical devices; Optical planar waveguides; Optical receivers; Optical waveguides; Propagation constant; Slabs;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.605551

Filename

605551