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Coupling from optical fibres to fast silicon modulators

Coupling from optical fibres to fast silicon modulators
Coupling from optical fibres to fast silicon modulators
In silicon based photonic circuits, optical modulation is usually performed via the plasma dispersion effect, which is arelatively slow process. Until recently, most researchers utilised Silicon on Insulator (501) waveguides with cross-sectional dimensions of the order of 5 microns. This limits the speed of devices based on the plasma dispersion effect due to the finite transit time of charge carriers. Consequently moving to smaller dimensions will increase device speed, as well as providing other advantages of closer packing density, smaller bend radius, and cost effective fabrication. As a result, the trend in recent years has been a move to smaller waveguides, of the order of 1 micron in cross sectional dimensions. However, coupling light to such small waveguides is relatively inefficient. In the literature, the problem of coupling optical fibres to thin semiconductor waveguides has not been solved sufficiently well to obtain both high coupling efficiency and good fabrication tolerances, due to large difference between the fibre and the waveguide in both dimensions and refractive indices.

In this paper we discuss both the design of small waveguide modulators (of the order of ~1 micron) together with a novel theoretical solution to the coupling problem. An example of coupling light to a thin silicon waveguide is given, as well as a discussion of a number of modulator design issues.
65-75
Mashanovich, G.
c806e262-af80-4836-b96f-319425060051
Png, C.E.
ed888ad9-41f4-4ecb-83f6-c8f7ac652c2f
Passaro, V.M.N.
828f0106-cfbc-47ea-b672-7185387214e5
Reed, G.T.
ca08dd60-c072-4d7d-b254-75714d570139
Atta, R.M.H.
3d1e5561-86dc-45d1-a70c-05356e379190
Ensell, G.
48fe0996-1c6b-4816-8bd0-0a3234d36ae8
Evans, A.G.R.
082f720d-3830-46d7-ba87-b058af733bc3
Mashanovich, G.
c806e262-af80-4836-b96f-319425060051
Png, C.E.
ed888ad9-41f4-4ecb-83f6-c8f7ac652c2f
Passaro, V.M.N.
828f0106-cfbc-47ea-b672-7185387214e5
Reed, G.T.
ca08dd60-c072-4d7d-b254-75714d570139
Atta, R.M.H.
3d1e5561-86dc-45d1-a70c-05356e379190
Ensell, G.
48fe0996-1c6b-4816-8bd0-0a3234d36ae8
Evans, A.G.R.
082f720d-3830-46d7-ba87-b058af733bc3

Mashanovich, G., Png, C.E., Passaro, V.M.N., Reed, G.T., Atta, R.M.H., Ensell, G. and Evans, A.G.R. (2003) Coupling from optical fibres to fast silicon modulators. SPIE Photonic Integrated Systems, San Jose, CA, United States. 25 - 31 Jan 2003. pp. 65-75 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

In silicon based photonic circuits, optical modulation is usually performed via the plasma dispersion effect, which is arelatively slow process. Until recently, most researchers utilised Silicon on Insulator (501) waveguides with cross-sectional dimensions of the order of 5 microns. This limits the speed of devices based on the plasma dispersion effect due to the finite transit time of charge carriers. Consequently moving to smaller dimensions will increase device speed, as well as providing other advantages of closer packing density, smaller bend radius, and cost effective fabrication. As a result, the trend in recent years has been a move to smaller waveguides, of the order of 1 micron in cross sectional dimensions. However, coupling light to such small waveguides is relatively inefficient. In the literature, the problem of coupling optical fibres to thin semiconductor waveguides has not been solved sufficiently well to obtain both high coupling efficiency and good fabrication tolerances, due to large difference between the fibre and the waveguide in both dimensions and refractive indices.

In this paper we discuss both the design of small waveguide modulators (of the order of ~1 micron) together with a novel theoretical solution to the coupling problem. An example of coupling light to a thin silicon waveguide is given, as well as a discussion of a number of modulator design issues.

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More information

Published date: 2003
Venue - Dates: SPIE Photonic Integrated Systems, San Jose, CA, United States, 2003-01-25 - 2003-01-31
Organisations: Optoelectronics Research Centre, NANO

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 260464
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/260464
PURE UUID: b9f1c718-b905-4052-9363-de06baa5ee4c

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Feb 2005
Last modified: 05 Feb 2024 17:37

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Contributors

Author: G. Mashanovich
Author: C.E. Png
Author: V.M.N. Passaro
Author: G.T. Reed
Author: R.M.H. Atta
Author: G. Ensell
Author: A.G.R. Evans

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