Open AccessUnconstrained splitting ratios in compact double-MMI couplers
Author(s) -
Matteo Cherchi,
Sami Ylinen,
Mikko Harjanne,
Markku Kapulainen,
Tapani Vehmas,
Timo Aalto
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.009245
Subject(s) - optics , phase shift module , ranging , materials science , silicon on insulator , wafer , beam splitter , power dividers and directional couplers , phase (matter) , interference (communication) , splitter , optoelectronics , physics , insertion loss , laser , telecommunications , computer science , silicon , channel (broadcasting) , quantum mechanics
A novel guided-wave optical power coupler is presented, based on two 2x2 50/50 multimode interference splitters connected with tapered waveguides that play the role of a phase shifter. By simply changing the length of this phase shifter, these double-MMI couplers can be easily designed to get any desired splitting ratio. Results of simulations are discussed and compared with the characterizations of devices fabricated on micron-scale SOI wafers, to highlight pros and cons of the proposed solution. The fabricated splitters have been found to have average losses about 0.4 ± 0.5 dB and splitting ratios ranging from 56/44 to 96/4.