On-Chip Reconfigurable and Ultracompact Silicon Waveguide Mode Converters Based on Nonvolatile Optical Phase Change Materials

Yedeng Fei, Yin Xu, Dongmei Huang, Yue Dong, Bo Zhang, Yi Ni, P. K.A. Wai

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Reconfigurable mode converters are essential components in efficient higher-order mode sources for on-chip multimode applications. We propose an on-chip reconfigurable silicon waveguide mode conversion scheme based on the nonvolatile and low-loss optical phase change material antimony triselenide (Sb2Se3). The key mode conversion region is formed by embedding a tapered Sb2Se3 layer into the silicon waveguide along the propagation direction and further cladding with graphene and aluminum oxide layers as the microheater. The proposed device can achieve the TE0-to-TE1 mode conversion and reconfigurable conversion (no mode conversion) depending on the phase state of embedded Sb2Se3 layer, whereas such function could not be realized according to previous reports. The proposed device length is only 2.3 μm with conversion efficiency (CE) = 97.5%, insertion loss (IL) = 0.2 dB, and mode crosstalk (CT) = −20.5 dB. Furthermore, the proposed device scheme can be extended to achieve other reconfigurable higher-order mode conversions. We believe the proposed reconfigurable mode conversion scheme and related devices could serve as the fundamental building blocks to provide higher-order mode sources for on-chip multimode photonics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4225
Pages (from-to)1-15
JournalNanomaterials
Volume12
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • higher-order modes
  • integrated optical devices
  • phase change materials
  • reconfigurable mode converters
  • silicon photonics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

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