Optimal Design of an Ultrasmall SOI-Based 1 × 8 Flat-Top AWG by Using an MMI

Abstract EN

Four methods based on a multimode interference (MMI) structure are optimally designed to flatten the spectral response of silicon-on-insulator- (SOI-) based arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) applied in a demodulation integration microsystem.

In the design for each method, SOI is selected as the material, the beam propagation method is used, and the performances (including the 3 dB passband width, the crosstalk, and the insertion loss) of the flat-top AWG are studied.

Moreover, the output spectrum responses of AWGs with or without a flattened structure are compared.

The results show that low insertion loss, crosstalk, and a flat and efficient spectral response are simultaneously achieved for each kind of structure.

By comparing the four designs, the design that combines a tapered MMI with tapered input/output waveguides, which has not been previously reported, was shown to yield better results than others.

The optimized design reduced crosstalk to approximately −21.9 dB and had an insertion loss of −4.36 dB and a 3 dB passband width, that is, approximately 65% of the channel spacing.