Open AccessCharacterization of efficient wavelength conversion by four-wave mixing in sub-micron silicon waveguides
Author(s) -
W. Mathlouthi,
Haisheng Rong,
Mario Paniccia
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.016735
Subject(s) - materials science , optics , silicon , waveguide , silicon photonics , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , attenuation coefficient , wavelength , optical amplifier , four wave mixing , silicon on insulator , refractive index , nonlinear optics , amplifier , cmos , laser , physics
We characterize silicon waveguide based wavelength converters using a commercial semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based wavelength converter as a benchmark. Conversion efficiency as high as -5.5 dB can be achieved using a 2.5 cm long sub-micron silicon-on-insulator rib waveguide. Comparison with the SOA reveals that silicon offers broader conversion bandwidth, higher OSNR, and negligible channel crosstalk. The impact of two-photon absorption and free carrier absorption on the conversion efficiency and the dependence of the efficiency on the rib waveguide dimensions are investigated theoretically. Using a nonlinear index coefficient of 4x10(-14) cm(2)/W for silicon, we obtain good agreement between simulations and measurements.