Bayesian design of mosaic-based mode multiplexers for various wavelength bands.

Ultracompact mode multiplexers based on mosaic structure for various wavelength bands designed by Bayesian technique are investigated. C-, O-, and C + O band, TE0-TE1 2-mode multiplexers can be designed with the same footprint, by only changing the mosaic-pattern, showing the great flexibility of mosaic-based devices. Bayesian direct binary search method is used for the design, and it is demonstrated that the Bayesian technique is superior to conventional design method in terms of the best-structure search for the same number of iterations. The designed devices are fabricated for Si-waveguide platform, and the proof-of-concept results are obtained. These results indicate that the mosaic-based devices are promising candidates for future compact optical transceivers.

High-power CW oscillation of 1.3-µm wavelength InP-based photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers.

We demonstrate high-power continuous-wave (CW) lasing oscillation of 1.3-µm wavelength InP-based photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs). Single-mode operation with an output power of over 100 mW, a side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of over 50 dB, and a narrow single-lobe beam with a divergence angle of below 1.2° are successfully achieved by using a double-lattice photonic crystal structure consisting of high-aspect-ratio deep air holes. The double lattice is designed to enhance both the in-plane optical feedback and the surface radiation effects in the photonic crystal. The coupling coefficients for 180 ∘, +90 ∘, and -90 ∘ diffractions are estimated from the measurements of the photonic band structure as κ1D = 417 cm-1, κ2D+ = 135 cm-1, and κ2D- = 65 cm-1, respectively. The stable single-mode, high-beam-quality operation is attributed to these large coupling coefficients introduced by the asymmetric double-lattice structure.

Continous-wave lasing operation of 1.3-µm wavelength InP-based photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers using MOVPE regrowth.

We report on electrically driven InP-based photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs), which possess a deep-air-hole photonic crystal (PC) structure underneath an active region formed by metal-organic vapor-phase-epitaxial (MOVPE) regrowth. Single-mode continuous-wave (CW) lasing operation in 1.3-µm wavelength is successfully achieved at a temperature of 15°C. It is shown that the enhancement of lateral growth during the MOVPE regrowth process of air holes enables the formation of deep air holes with an atomically flat and thin overlayer, whose thickness is less than 100 nm. A threshold current of 120 mA (threshold current density = 0.68 kA/cm2) is obtained in a device with a diameter of 150 µm. A doughnut-like far-field pattern with the narrow beam divergence of less than 1° is observed. Strong optical confinement in the PC structure is revealed from measurements of the photonic band structure, and this strong optical confinement leads to the single-mode CW lasing operation with a low threshold current density.

Nonreciprocal microresonators for the miniaturization of optical waveguide isolators.

By introducing nonreciprocal phase shifts into microresonators, we propose new designs for the miniaturization of optical waveguide isolators and circulators. We present detailed design procedures, and numerically demonstrate the operation of these magneto-optical devices. The device sizes can be reduced down to several tens of micrometers. The nonreciprocal function of these devices is due to nonreciprocal resonance shifts. Next, the operation bandwidth can be expanded by increasing the number of resonators (the filter order). This is demonstrated by comparing the characteristics of a single-resonator structure with those of a three-resonator structure. This paper furthermore presents the nonreciprocal characteristics of three-dimensional resonators with finite heights, leading to a guideline for the design of nonreciprocal optical circuits. This involves a demonstration of how the resonators with selected parameters are practical for miniaturized nonreciprocal circuits.

Impact of structural deformations on polarization conversion in high index contrast waveguides.

The objective of this paper is the detailed study of polarization conversion in deformed high index contrast (HIC) waveguides. The type of deformation considered here is the slanted sidewalls of buried channel waveguides. Polarization conversion of HIC waveguides are investigated for possible core refractive indices ranging from 2 (SiN(x)) to 3.5 (Si), by using numerical schemes based on the finite-element and beam propagation methods. The numerical results show that polarization conversion can be greatly magnified in HIC channel waveguides. For example, in Si-wire waveguides, complete polarization conversions can occur within just tens of micrometers.

Full-vectorial finite element method in a cylindrical coordinate system for loss analysis of photonic wire bends.

This paper presents a new full-vectorial finite-element method in a local cylindrical coordinate system, to effectively analyze bending losses in photonic wires. The discretization is performed in the cross section of a three-dimensional curved waveguide, using hybrid edge/nodal elements. The solution region is truncated by anisotropic, perfectly matched layers in the cylindrical coordinate system, to deal properly with leaky modes of the waveguide. This approach is used to evaluate bending losses in silicon wire waveguides. The numerical results of the present approach are compared with results calculated with an equivalent straight waveguide approach and with reported experimental data. These comparisons together demonstrate the validity of the present approach based on the cylindrical coordinate system and also clarifies the limited validity of the equivalent straight waveguide approximation.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of nonreciprocal phase shifts in magneto-photonic crystal waveguides.

This report presents the first three-dimensional characterization of nonreciprocal phase shifts in magneto-photonic crystal (MPC) slab waveguides. We model MPC waveguides using a three-dimensional finite element method with curvilinear tetrahedral edge elements. This study investigates the dependence of nonreciprocal phase shifts on the width and the thickness of the waveguides, and we investigate the dependence of losses on the air hole depth, leading to a guideline for the design of optical isolators. Simulations show that waveguides with reduced width and deep air holes exhibit high nonreciprocal phase shifts and low losses. The study also shows that, compared with two-dimensional calculations, nonreciprocal phase shifts express key similarities, although the frequencies of the guided modes shift.