Single-mode and single-polarization photonics with anchored-membrane waveguides

TL;DR

This paper introduces the T-Guide, an anchored-membrane photonic platform that achieves broad single-mode, single-polarization operation with high stability and wide bandwidth, suitable for nonlinear optical applications.

Contribution

It proposes and numerically investigates a novel anchored-membrane waveguide design enabling unprecedented broadband SMSP operation and dispersion engineering in integrated photonics.

Findings

Achieves 2.75-octave SMSP bandwidth in silicon T-Guides

Demonstrates broad anomalous dispersion regions for nonlinear applications

Shows high stability compared to prior membrane structures

Abstract

An integrated photonic platform with anchored-membrane structures, the T-Guide, is proposed and numerically investigated. These compact air-clad structures have high index contrast and are much more stable than prior membrane-type structures. Their semi-infinite geometry enables single-mode and single-polarization (SMSP) operation over unprecedented bandwidths. Modal simulations quantify this behavior, showing that an SMSP window of 2.75 octaves (1.2 - 8.1 {\mu}m) is feasible for silicon T-Guides, spanning almost the entire transparency range of silicon. Dispersion engineering for T-Guides yields broad regions of anomalous group velocity dispersion, rendering them a promising platform for nonlinear applications, such as wideband frequency conversion.