Multi-micron dimensioning of amorphous silicon rib waveguides

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Abstract

While silicon photonics is considered as the key technology for future applications in optical transceivers, ASICs and sensing devices, there are still challenges to achieve generalized mass production of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). One obstacle is the required extreme miniaturization of the photonic devices. Nevertheless, there is space for applications with equal interest and impact in the society that do not require the extreme performance associated with PICs built on a tenth of nanometer scale. Low-cost PICs can be obtained by increasing the size of the waveguides and devices to a multi-micron scale and in this case the machinery necessary for the device fabrication can be greatly simplified. The transfer of the amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) production technology developed in the past for the photovoltaic and flat panel displays can be adapted to the production of multi-micron size PICs targeting low-cost devices working with low frequency signals. To enable the use of such devices it is important to show that light and be coupled in and out of the waveguides efficiently without the need for diffraction gratings or other components that require sub-micron fabrication resolutions. In this article we perform simulation of the power transfer between a lensed 19.4 μm multimode optical fiber and a multi-micron a-Si:H rib waveguide, designed to support single-mode propagation. Light coupling efficiency is analyzed as a function of alignment and distance variations using the FDTD and the Beam Propagation methods. Results show a fundamental TM mode overlap over 80 % under optimal alignment conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhysics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXX
EditorsB. Witzigmann, M. Osinski, Y. Arakawa
Place of Publication Washington
PublisherSPIE-International Society for Optical Engineering
ISBN (Print)978-151064861-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022
EventPhysics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXX 2022 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 20 Feb 202224 Feb 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11995
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferencePhysics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XXX 2022
CityVirtual, Online
Period20/02/2224/02/22

Keywords

  • amorphous silicon
  • light coupling
  • Multi-micron waveguides
  • PECVD
  • rib waveguides
  • single-mode operation

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