Open AccessMMI resonators based on metal mirrors and MMI mirrors: an experimental comparison
Author(s) -
Matteo Cherchi,
Sami Ylinen,
Mikko Harjanne,
Markku Kapulainen,
Timo Aalto
Publication year - 2015
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.23.005982
Subject(s) - resonator , finesse , optics , materials science , dielectric , q factor , silicon , optoelectronics , photonics , quality (philosophy) , resonance (particle physics) , aluminium , fabry–pérot interferometer , laser , physics , particle physics , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental proof of MMI-based resonators. The resonators have been designed and fabricated on a micron-scale silicon photonics platform and are based on different reflectors suitably placed on two of the four ports of 2x2 MMIs with uneven splitting ratios, namely 85:15 and 72:28. The reflectors are either based on aluminum mirrors or on all-dielectric MMI mirrors. Performances of the different designs are compared with each other and with numerical simulations. Finesse values as high as 13.1 (9.9) have been measured in best aluminum (all-dielectric) resonators, corresponding to a quality factor of 5.8·10(3) (12.5·10(3)) and mirror reflectivity exceeding 92% (88%).