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9 pages, 2042 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A 1 × 4 Silica-Based GMZI Thermo-Optic Switch with a Wide Bandwidth and Low Crosstalk

by Yanshuang Wang

Photonics 2025, 12(7), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12070721 - 16 Jul 2025

Viewed by 212

The growing demand for communication capacity has driven advancements in optical switches. However, measurement procedures for large-scale switching arrays become more complex as the number of units increases. Multi-port optical switches can reduce the measurement complexity. In this work, we demonstrate a 1 [...] Read more.

The growing demand for communication capacity has driven advancements in optical switches. However, measurement procedures for large-scale switching arrays become more complex as the number of units increases. Multi-port optical switches can reduce the measurement complexity. In this work, we demonstrate a 1 × 4 thermo-optic switch fabricated on a silica platform, based on a Generalized Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (GMZI) structure with a wide bandwidth and low crosstalk. The device enables flexible switching among four output channels, achieving a crosstalk below −15 dB over the 1500–1580 nm wavelength range and an insertion loss of −6.51 dB at 1550 nm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Integrated Photonics)

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14 pages, 3030 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning-Assisted Design and Optimization of a Broadband, Low-Loss Adiabatic Optical Switch

by Mohamed Mammeri, Maurizio Casalino, Teresa Crisci, Babak Hashemi, Stefano Vergari, Lakhdar Dehimi and Francesco Giuseppe Dellacorte

Electronics 2025, 14(7), 1276; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14071276 - 24 Mar 2025

Viewed by 467

Abstract

The demand for faster and more efficient optical communication systems has driven significant advancements in integrated photonic technologies, with optical switches playing a pivotal role in high-speed, low-latency data transmission. In this work, we introduce a novel design for an adiabatic optical switch [...] Read more.

The demand for faster and more efficient optical communication systems has driven significant advancements in integrated photonic technologies, with optical switches playing a pivotal role in high-speed, low-latency data transmission. In this work, we introduce a novel design for an adiabatic optical switch based on the thermo-optic effect using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. The approach relies on slow optical signal evolution, minimizing power dissipation and addressing challenges of traditional optical switches. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed to optimize waveguide designs, ensuring polarization-independent (PI) and single-mode (SM) conditions. The proposed design achieves low-loss and high-performance operation across a broad wavelength range (1500–1600 nm). We demonstrate the effectiveness of a Y-junction adiabatic switch, with a tapered waveguide structure, and further enhance its performance by employing thermo-optic effects in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). Our simulations reveal high extinction ratios (ERs) exceeding 30 dB for TE mode and 15 dB for TM mode, alongside significant improvements in coupling efficiency and reduced insertion loss. This design offers a promising solution for integrating efficient, low-energy optical switches into large-scale photonic circuits, making it suitable for next-generation communication and high-performance computing systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Devices and Applications in Optical Communications)

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23 pages, 6804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Theoretical Analysis of Efficient Thermo-Optic Switching on Si₃N₄ Waveguide Platform Using SiOC-Based Plasmo-Photonics

by Dimitris V. Bellas, Eleftheria Lampadariou, George Dabos, Ioannis Vangelidis, Laurent Markey, Jean-Claude Weeber, Nikos Pleros and Elefterios Lidorikis

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(4), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15040296 - 15 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1015

Abstract

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are crucial for advanced applications in telecommunications, quantum computing, and biomedical fields. Silicon nitride (SiN)-based platforms are promising for PICs due to their transparency, low optical loss, and thermal stability. However, achieving efficient thermo-optic (TO) modulation on SiN remains [...] Read more.

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are crucial for advanced applications in telecommunications, quantum computing, and biomedical fields. Silicon nitride (SiN)-based platforms are promising for PICs due to their transparency, low optical loss, and thermal stability. However, achieving efficient thermo-optic (TO) modulation on SiN remains challenging due to limited reconfigurability and high power requirements. This study aims to optimize TO phase shifters on SiN platforms to enhance power efficiency, reduce device footprint, and minimize insertion losses. We introduce a CMOS-compatible plasmo-photonic TO phase shifter using a SiOC material layer with a high TO coefficient combined with aluminum heaters on a SiN platform. We evaluate four interferometer architectures—symmetric and asymmetric Mach–Zehnder Interferometers (MZIs), an MZI with a ring resonator, and a single-arm design—through opto-thermal simulations to refine performance across power, losses, footprint, and switching speed metrics. The asymmetric MZI with ring resonator (A-MZI-RR) architecture demonstrated superior performance, with minimal power consumption (1.6 mW), low insertion loss (2.8 dB), and reduced length (14.4 μm), showing a favorable figure of merit compared to existing solutions. The optimized SiN-based TO switches show enhanced efficiency and compactness, supporting their potential for scalable, energy-efficient PICs suited to high-performance photonic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Nanoscale Materials in Plasmonics and Photonics)

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10 pages, 5839 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Broadband Thermo-Optic Photonic Switch for TE and TM Modes with Adiabatic Design

by Babak Hashemi, Maurizio Casalino, Teresa Crisci, Mohamed Mammeri and Francesco G. Della Corte

Photonics 2024, 11(12), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11121177 - 14 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1034

Abstract

Optical power switches are essential components in fiber optic communication systems, requiring minimal losses, a broad operating wavelength range, and high tolerance to fabrication errors for optimal performance. Adiabatic optical power switches inherently meet these criteria and are well suited for manufacturing processes [...] Read more.

Optical power switches are essential components in fiber optic communication systems, requiring minimal losses, a broad operating wavelength range, and high tolerance to fabrication errors for optimal performance. Adiabatic optical power switches inherently meet these criteria and are well suited for manufacturing processes which support large-scale production at low costs. This paper presents the design and simulation of an adiabatic switch with a flat response in the whole 1525–1625 nm wavelength range (C band and L band) for both TE and TM polarizations. The switch is based on the thermo-optic effect induced by local variations in temperature. The impacts of the design parameters, such as the device length and dissipated heat, are analyzed. The simulation results indicate that the switch achieved high efficiency and low insertion losses, highlighting the potential of adiabatic switches for reliable and scalable integration into advanced optical circuits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonics: 10th Anniversary)

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12 pages, 16546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silica Waveguide Thermo-Optic Mode Switch with Bimodal S-Bend

by Zhentao Yao, Manzhuo Wang, Yue Zhang, Zhaoyang Sun, Xiaoqiang Sun, Yuanda Wu and Daming Zhang

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(24), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14241991 (registering DOI) - 12 Dec 2024

Viewed by 812

Abstract

A silica waveguide thermo-optic mode switch with small radius bimodal S-bends is demonstrated in this study. The cascaded multimode interference coupler is adopted to implement the E₁₁ and E₂₁ mode selective output. The beam propagation method is used in design optimization. [...] Read more.

A silica waveguide thermo-optic mode switch with small radius bimodal S-bends is demonstrated in this study. The cascaded multimode interference coupler is adopted to implement the E₁₁ and E₂₁ mode selective output. The beam propagation method is used in design optimization. Standard CMOS processing of ultraviolet photolithography, chemical vapor deposition, and plasma etching are adopted in fabrication. Detailed characterizations on the prepared switch are performed to confirm the precise fabrication. The measurement results show that within the wavelength range from 1530 to 1575 nm, for the E₁₁ mode input, the switch exhibits an extinction ratio of ≥13.1 dB and a crosstalk ≤−22.8 dB at an electrical driving power of 284.8 mW, while for the E₂₁ mode input, the extinction ratio is ≥15.5 dB and the crosstalk is ≤−18.1 dB at an electrical driving power of 282.4 mW. These results prove the feasibility of multimode S-bends in mode switching. The favorable performance of the demonstrated switch promises good potential for on-chip mode routing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light-Matter Interaction in Nano Systems: Fundamentals and Applications)

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8 pages, 1799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Optic Switch with High Tuning Efficiency Based on Nanobeam Cavity and Hydrogen-Doped Indium Oxide Microheater

by Weiyu Tong, Shangjing Li, Jiahui Zhang, Jianji Dong, Bin Hu and Xinliang Zhang

Photonics 2024, 11(8), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11080738 - 7 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1733

Abstract

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an efficient on-chip thermo-optic (TO) switch based on a photonic crystal nanobeam cavity (PCNC) and a hydrogen-doped indium oxide (IHO) microheater. The small mode volume of the PCNC and the close-range heating through the transparent conductive oxide IHO [...] Read more.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an efficient on-chip thermo-optic (TO) switch based on a photonic crystal nanobeam cavity (PCNC) and a hydrogen-doped indium oxide (IHO) microheater. The small mode volume of the PCNC and the close-range heating through the transparent conductive oxide IHO greatly enhance the coupling between the thermal field and the optical field, increasing the TO tuning efficiency. The experimental results show that the TO tuning efficiency can reach 1.326 nm/mW. And the rise time and fall time are measured to be 3.90 and 2.65 μs, respectively. In addition, compared with the conventional metal microheater, the measured extinction ratios of the switches are close (25.8 dB and 27.6 dB, respectively), indicating that the IHO microheater does not introduce obvious insertion loss. Our demonstration showcases the immense potential of this TO switch as a unit device for on-chip large-scale integrated arrays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Microwave Photonics)

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13 pages, 3449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

(1E)-1,2-Diaryldiazene Derivatives Containing a Donor–π-Acceptor-Type Tolane Skeleton as Smectic Liquid–Crystalline Dyes

by Shigeyuki Yamada, Keigo Yoshida, Yuto Eguchi, Mitsuo Hara, Motohiro Yasui and Tsutomu Konno

Compounds 2024, 4(2), 288-300; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds4020015 - 17 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1632

Abstract

Considerable attention has been paid to (1E)-1,2-diaryldiazenes (azo dyes) possessing liquid–crystalline (LC) and optical properties because they can switch color through thermal phase transitions and photoisomerizations. Although multifunctional molecules with both LC and fluorescent properties based on a donor–π-acceptor (D-π-A)-type tolane [...] Read more.

Considerable attention has been paid to (1E)-1,2-diaryldiazenes (azo dyes) possessing liquid–crystalline (LC) and optical properties because they can switch color through thermal phase transitions and photoisomerizations. Although multifunctional molecules with both LC and fluorescent properties based on a donor–π-acceptor (D-π-A)-type tolane skeleton have been developed, functional molecules possessing LC and dye properties have not yet been developed. Therefore, this study proposes to develop LC dyes consisting of (1E)-1,2-diaryldiazenes with a D–π-A-type tolane skeleton as the aryl moiety. The (1E)-1,2-diaryldiazene derivatives exhibited a smectic phase, regardless of the flexible-chain structure, whereas the melting temperature was significantly increased by introducing fluoroalkyl moieties into the flexible chain. Evaluation of the optical properties revealed that compounds with decyloxy chains exhibited an orange color, whereas compounds with semifluoroalkoxy chains absorbed at a slightly blue-shifted wavelength, which resulted in a pale orange color. The thermal phase transition caused a slight color change accompanied by a change in the absorption properties, photoisomerization-induced shrinkage, and partial disappearance of the LC domain. These results indicate that (1E)-1,2-diaryldiazenes with a D–π-A-type tolane skeleton can function as thermo- or photoresponsive dyes and are applicable to smart windows and in photolithography. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Compounds (2024))

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9 pages, 2002 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Submilliwatt Silicon Nitride Thermo-Optic Modulator Operating at 532 nm

by Zhaoyang Wu, Shuqing Lin, Siyuan Yu and Yanfeng Zhang

Photonics 2024, 11(3), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11030213 - 27 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2427

Abstract

Optical phase control is essential for optical beam steering applications. The silicon nitride thermo-optic modulator generally suffers from high electrical power consumption. Microresonator and multipass structures could reduce the electrical power consumption of silicon nitride thermo-optic modulators, with the drawback of a narrow [...] Read more.

Optical phase control is essential for optical beam steering applications. The silicon nitride thermo-optic modulator generally suffers from high electrical power consumption. Microresonator and multipass structures could reduce the electrical power consumption of silicon nitride thermo-optic modulators, with the drawback of a narrow operating bandwidth and high insertion loss. We demonstrate a single-pass silicon nitride thermo-optic phase modulator at 532 nm with low insertion loss and low power consumption, achieving a π phase shift power consumption down to 0.63 mW in a Mach–Zehnder switch. The rise and fall time are around 1.07 ms and 0.67 ms, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro-Nano Optical Devices)

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12 pages, 3469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Raman Lasing in a Tellurite Microsphere with Thermo-Optical on/off Switching by an Auxiliary Laser Diode

by Elena A. Anashkina, Maria P. Marisova, Vitaly V. Dorofeev and Alexey V. Andrianov

Micromachines 2023, 14(9), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14091796 - 20 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1405

Abstract

The generation of coherent light based on inelastic stimulated Raman scattering in photonic microresonators has been attracting great interest in recent years. Tellurite glasses are promising materials for such microdevices since they have large Raman gain and large Raman frequency shift. We experimentally [...] Read more.

The generation of coherent light based on inelastic stimulated Raman scattering in photonic microresonators has been attracting great interest in recent years. Tellurite glasses are promising materials for such microdevices since they have large Raman gain and large Raman frequency shift. We experimentally obtained Raman lasing at a wavelength of 1.8 µm with a frequency shift of 27.5 THz from a 1.54 µm narrow-line pump in a 60 µm tellurite glass microsphere with a Q-factor of 2.5 × 10⁷. We demonstrated experimentally a robust, simple, and cheap way of thermo-optically controlled on/off switching of Raman lasing in a tellurite glass microsphere by an auxiliary laser diode. With a permanently operating narrow-line pump laser, on/off switching of the auxiliary 405 nm laser diode led to off/on switching of Raman generation. We also performed theoretical studies supporting the experimental results. The temperature distribution and thermal frequency shifts in eigenmodes in the microspheres heated by the thermalized power of an auxiliary diode and the partially thermalized power of a pump laser were numerically simulated. We analyzed the optical characteristics of Raman generation in microspheres of different diameters. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Micromachined Resonators)

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26 pages, 5695 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polymer and Hybrid Optical Devices Manipulated by the Thermo-Optic Effect

by Yuqi Xie, Liguo Chen, Haojia Li and Yunji Yi

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3721; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183721 - 11 Sep 2023

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3751

Abstract

The thermo-optic effect is a crucial driving mechanism for optical devices. The application of the thermo-optic effect in integrated photonics has received extensive investigation, with continuous progress in the performance and fabrication processes of thermo-optic devices. Due to the high thermo-optic coefficient, polymers [...] Read more.

The thermo-optic effect is a crucial driving mechanism for optical devices. The application of the thermo-optic effect in integrated photonics has received extensive investigation, with continuous progress in the performance and fabrication processes of thermo-optic devices. Due to the high thermo-optic coefficient, polymers have become an excellent candidate for the preparation of high-performance thermo-optic devices. Firstly, this review briefly introduces the principle of the thermo-optic effect and the materials commonly used. In the third section, a brief introduction to the waveguide structure of thermo-optic devices is provided. In addition, three kinds of thermo-optic devices based on polymers, including an optical switch, a variable optical attenuator, and a temperature sensor, are reviewed. In the fourth section, the typical fabrication processes for waveguide devices based on polymers are introduced. Finally, thermo-optic devices play important roles in various applications. Nevertheless, the large-scale integrated applications of polymer-based thermo-optic devices are still worth investigating. Therefore, we propose a future direction for the development of polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers for Electronics and Photonics)

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17 pages, 3854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Delocalization, Asymmetric Distribution of π-Electrons and Elongated Conjugation System for Enhancement of NLO Response of Open Form of Spiropyran-Based Thermochromes

by Naveen Kosar, Saba Kanwal, Malai Haniti S. A. Hamid, Khurshid Ayub, Mazhar Amjad Gilani, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Arshad, Mohammed A. Alkhalifah, Nadeem S. Sheikh and Tariq Mahmood

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6283; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176283 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1828

Abstract

Switchable nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have widespread applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Thermo-switches generate many times higher NLO responses as compared to photo-switches. Herein, we have investigated the geometric, electronic, and nonlinear optical properties of spiropyranes thermochromes via DFT methods. The stabilities of [...] Read more.

Switchable nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have widespread applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Thermo-switches generate many times higher NLO responses as compared to photo-switches. Herein, we have investigated the geometric, electronic, and nonlinear optical properties of spiropyranes thermochromes via DFT methods. The stabilities of close and open isomers of selected spiropyranes are investigated through relative energies. Electronic properties are studied through frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) analysis. The lower HOMO-LUMO energy gap and lower excitation energy are observed for open isomers of spiropyranes, which imparts the large first hyperpolarizability value. The delocalization of π-electrons, asymmetric distribution and elongated conjugation system are dominant factors for high hyperpolarizability values of open isomers. For deep understanding, we also analyzed the frequency-dependent hyperpolarizability and refractive index of considered thermochromes. The NLO response increased significantly with increasing frequency. Among all those compounds, the highest refractive index value is observed for the open isomer of the spiropyran 1 (1.99 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm²/W). Molecular absorption analysis confirmed the electronic excitation in the open isomers compared to closed isomers. The results show that reversible thermochromic compounds act as excellent NLO molecular switches and can be used to design advanced electronics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computational and Theoretical Chemistry)

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31 pages, 4677 KiB

Open AccessReview

Thermal Effects on Optical Chirality, Mechanics, and Associated Symmetry Properties

by Hyoung-In Lee, Tanvi Vaidya and Ram Prakash Dwivedi

Optics 2023, 4(3), 402-432; https://doi.org/10.3390/opt4030030 - 17 Jul 2023

Viewed by 2243

Abstract

A review is provided here about the thermal effects on optical chirality. To this goal, chiral objects dispersed in an embedding fluid are examined for their magnetoelectric coupling. Thermal effects on several chiral meta-atoms and their ensembles are examined. To this goal, DNA-like [...] Read more.

A review is provided here about the thermal effects on optical chirality. To this goal, chiral objects dispersed in an embedding fluid are examined for their magnetoelectric coupling. Thermal effects on several chiral meta-atoms and their ensembles are examined. To this goal, DNA-like helical structures are examined in detail. The mechanical aspect of thermo-elasticity is reviewed along with transverse deformations while drawing analogies from condensed-matter physics. In this respect, the chirality-induced spin selection is reviewed along with the temperature-mediated electron–phonon interactions. A wide range of materials, such as polymers and biological cells, are also examined for temperature effects. A transition temperature delineating a sign flip in the chirality parameter is identified as well. Chirality-associated functionalities such as ratchet motions, switching, and modulations are investigated for their respective thermal effects. Issues of fabricating chiral meta-atoms are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Opto-Thermo-Mechanical Interactions in Nano-Objects and Metasurfaces)

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15 pages, 3379 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Review of 2 × 2 Silicon Photonic Switches

by Wencheng Yue, Yan Cai and Mingbin Yu

Photonics 2023, 10(5), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10050564 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6407

Abstract

With the advent of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, Internet plus, and so on, data traffic is exploding and higher requirements are put forward for information transmission and switching. Traditional switching requires optical/electrical/optical conversions, which brings additional power [...] Read more.

With the advent of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, Internet plus, and so on, data traffic is exploding and higher requirements are put forward for information transmission and switching. Traditional switching requires optical/electrical/optical conversions, which brings additional power consumption and requires the deployment of large amounts of cooling equipment. This increases the cost and complexity of the system. Moreover, limited by the electronic bottleneck, electrical switching will suffer from many problems such as bandwidth, delay, crosstalk, and so on, with the continuous reduction in device footprint. Optical switching does not require optical/electrical/optical conversions and has lower power consumption, larger capacity, and lower cost. Silicon photonic switches received much attention because of their compatibility with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process and are anticipated to be potential candidates to replace electrical switches in many applications such as data center and telecommunication networks. 2 × 2 silicon photonic switches are the basic components to build the large-scale optical switching matrices. Thus, this review article mainly focuses on the principle and state of the art of 2 × 2 silicon photonic switches, including electro-optic switches, thermo-optic switches, and nonvolatile silicon photonic switches assisted by phase-change materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical Communication and Network)

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12 pages, 9453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Function-Versatile Thermo-Optic Switch Using Silicon Nitride Waveguide in Polymer

by Tao Chen, Zhenming Ding, Zhangqi Dang, Xinhong Jiang and Ziyang Zhang

Photonics 2023, 10(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10030277 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3127

Abstract

A function-versatile thermo-optic switch is proposed and experimentally demonstrated using silicon nitride waveguides embedded in polymer cladding. The device consists of a 1 × 2 input splitter, 2 single-mode waveguides for phase shifting, and a thermally controlled 2 × 2 output coupler to [...] Read more.

A function-versatile thermo-optic switch is proposed and experimentally demonstrated using silicon nitride waveguides embedded in polymer cladding. The device consists of a 1 × 2 input splitter, 2 single-mode waveguides for phase shifting, and a thermally controlled 2 × 2 output coupler to give another degree of freedom in achieving phase-matching conditions. Combining the high waveguide birefringence of the thin silicon nitride waveguide and the excellent thermo-optic property of the polymer material, this device can realize multiple functions by applying different micro-heater powers, i.e., polarization-independent path switching, beam splitting, and polarization beam splitting. For the polarization-independent path switching, the fabricated device has shown a crosstalk suppression better than 10 dB for the TE mode and over 20 dB for the TM mode in the wavelength range from 1500 nm to 1620 nm. For the polarization beam splitting function, the device can reach a polarization extinction ratio greater than 10 dB at selected bands. This simple yet scalable device may find applications in polarization-multiplexed optical communication technology and complex photonic computing networks. Full article

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15 pages, 3889 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Integrated Optical Circuit Architecture for Inverse-Designed Silicon Photonic Components

by Dusan Gostimirovic and Richard Soref

Sensors 2023, 23(2), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23020626 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4644

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate a compact toolkit of inverse-designed, topologically optimized silicon photonic devices that are arranged in a “plug-and-play” fashion to realize many different photonic integrated circuits, both passive and active, each with a small footprint. The silicon-on-insulator 1550-nm toolkit contains [...] Read more.

In this work, we demonstrate a compact toolkit of inverse-designed, topologically optimized silicon photonic devices that are arranged in a “plug-and-play” fashion to realize many different photonic integrated circuits, both passive and active, each with a small footprint. The silicon-on-insulator 1550-nm toolkit contains a 2 × 2 3-dB splitter/combiner, a 2 × 2 waveguide crossover, and a 2 × 2 all-forward add–drop resonator. The resonator can become a 2 × 2 electro-optical crossbar switch by means of the thermo-optical effect, phase-change cladding, or free-carrier injection. For each of the ten circuits demonstrated in this work, the toolkit of photonic devices enables the compact circuit to achieve low insertion loss and low crosstalk. By adopting the sophisticated inverse-design approach, the design structure, shape, and sizing of each individual device can be made more flexible to better suit the architecture of the greater circuit. For a compact architecture, we present a unified, parallel waveguide circuit framework into which the devices are designed to fit seamlessly, thus enabling low-complexity circuit design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical Sensors)

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