Integrated TE and TM optical circulators on ultra-low-loss silicon nitride platform

Opt Express. 2013 Feb 25;21(4):5041-52. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.005041.

Abstract

In this paper, we present two four-port optical circulators for TE and TM modes, respectively. Exploiting the recent technological development concerning Ce:YIG pulse laser deposition on silicon nitride platform, we design two integrated circulators, which can be used to implement several functions in integrated optics, such as de-interleavers, input/output amplifier isolators and output laser isolators. The proposed devices combine the benefit of low loss silicon nitride waveguides with the non-reciprocal properties of magneto-optical materials. The ring cross-section has been optimized in order to maximize the non-reciprocal phase shift and finally the scattering coefficients have been computed using the transfer matrix method. The material stability and refractive index regularity of silicon nitride, the small micro-ring footprint, and the high wavelength selectivity make these devices particularly attractive.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Silicon Compounds / chemistry*
  • Silicon Compounds / radiation effects
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Systems Integration
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Silicon Compounds
  • silicon nitride