Ultra-compact Silicon Multimode Waveguide Bends Based on Special Curves for Dual Polarizations

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel design of ultra-compact silicon multimode waveguide bends using special curves, achieving low loss and crosstalk for dual polarizations, enhancing capacity in mode-division multiplexing systems.

Contribution

It introduces a new design approach for dual-polarization silicon multimode waveguide bends based on special curves, with superior performance over traditional arc-based bends.

Findings

Free-form curve MWB achieves loss below 0.052dB

Crosstalk below -25.97dB across 1500-1600 nm

Design method supports polarization-insensitive MDM systems

Abstract

The multimode waveguide bends (MWBs) with very compact sizes are the key building blocks in the applications of different mode-division multiplexing (MDM) systems. To further increase the transmission capacity, the silicon multimode waveguide bends for dual polarizations are of particular interest considering the very distinct mode behaviors under different polarizations in the silicon waveguides. Seldom silicon MWBs suitable for both polarizations have been studied. In this paper we analyze several dual-polarization-MWBs based on different bending curve functions. These special curve-based silicon MWBs have the advantages of easy fabrication and low loss compared with other structures based on the subwavelength structures such as gratings. A comparison is made between the free-form curve, Bezier curve, and Euler curve, which are used in the bending region instead of a conventional arc. The transmission spectra of the first three TE and TM modes in the silicon multimode waveguide with a core thickness of 340 nm are investigated. The simulation results indicate that in the premise of the same effective radius which is only 10 in this paper, the 6-mode MWB based on the free-form curve has the optimal performances, including an extremely low loss below 0.052dB and low crosstalk below -25.97dB for all six modes in the wide band of 1500-1600 nm. The MWBs based on the Bezier and Euler curve have degraded performances in terms of the loss and crosstalk. The results of this paper provide an efficient design method of the polarization insensitive silicon MWBs, which may leverage the researches for establishing complicated optical transmission systems incorporating both the MDM and polarization-division multiplexing (PDM) technology.