Optimization of Si-Based Waveguides for Evanescent-Field Sensors ^†

Abstract

We present a detailed study of Si-based optical waveguides, which can be used as evanescent field sensors for the quantitative analysis of various gases and liquids. Direct quantitative comparison of simulation with experimental results of directional coupling structures allows fine-tuning the material parameters and provides important input for future sensor design.

1. Introduction

Interest for integrated gas sensors which could be used in mobile devices has grown over the last years and provides the motivation for investigating Si-based photonics in the mid-infrared spectral range [1]. One approach uses waveguide structures and evanescent field infrared absorption as the sensor principle. The radiation is guided in a suitable waveguide but part of the field extends into the cladding, and can interact with the analyte as shown in Figure 1.

The devised sensor test structures are silicon strip waveguides on a silicon nitride-layer, deposited on SiO₂, which can be fabricated in a standard MEMS process to provide a fully integrated CMOS compatible sensor, which is our ultimate goal [2,3].

2. Experimental

Simulations for designing the dimensions of the waveguide and the grating coupler where carried out using COMSOL-Multiphysics. The dimensions of the waveguide were designed for single-mode wave propagation and a typical calculated mode profile for a strip waveguide on a silicon nitride membrane is shown in Figure 2. Different thicknesses of the silicon nitride membrane were tested.

However, there are quite some uncertainties, connected to the optical parameters. The optical properties of the thin layer of poly-Si also depends on details of the deposition method, and can deviate a lot from literature values, found for crystalline silicon. The same is true for Si₃N₄ whose properties also depend on the details of the deposition method. In order to characterize our waveguides in detail, we designed directional couplers, the properties of which are very sensitive to the exact shape of the mode. A direct comparison between experiments and simulation thus allows fine-tuning the optical parameters for the simulation. A basic scheme of the layout is shown in Figure 3. The waveguides have a width and height of 1.4 µm and 660 nm, respectively. Light was coupled in and out via grating couplers and taper structures. For the structures measured in this paper, the gap between the waveguides was 400 nm. Measurements were performed at 4.26 µm, which is close to the absorption band of CO₂, since CO₂ sensing could be a possible application for these waveguides. In the experiments light from a quantum cascade laser is coupled in at port 1 via optical fibers and detectors are placed at port 2 (“through-port”) and 3 (“drop-port”).

3. Results

Measurements on structures with different interaction lengths allow quantitative comparison of the experimental results with the simulation. Simulations for different waveguide-geometries were performed with varying gap sizes and interaction lengths. Optical parameters of the materials were taken from literature [4]. (Specifically, the values used for the refractive indices of silicon and silicon nitride were n_Si = 3.42, n_Si3N4 =1.89, respectively.)

Figure 4 shows simulation results for two different thicknesses of the Si₃N₄ layer. From these simulations we estimated the coupling length for maximal energy transfer between the waveguides to be 110 µm and 95 µm for thicknesses of the Si₃N₄-layer of 140 nm and 280 nm, respectively.

Based on the simulations, test-structures with interaction lengths of 70, 110, and 150 µm were designed and fabricated. Wafers with three different thicknesses of the silicon nitride layer were fabricated. In the experiments we measured the light coupled to the other waveguide by putting a detector at the drop-port. The results are plotted in Figure 5. We found a mismatch of about 20% with regard to the initial estimates of the coupling lengths. However, fine-tuning of the optical parameters n_Si and n_Si3N4 by some percent provides excellent overlap between experiment and simulation as can be seen in Figure 5. Among others, our results indicate, that the index of refraction of the deposited poly-silicon is about 3% higher in our structures, compared to literature values of bulk silicon.

4. Conclusions

We presented the design and a detailed characterization of silicon strip waveguides. Among others, our results indicate, that the index of refraction of the deposited poly-silicon is about 3% higher in our structures, compared to literature values of bulk silicon. Based on these results, we will proceed in designing and optimizing the next generation of waveguide structures for evanescent field sensing.