Non-uniform programmable photonic waveguide meshes

TL;DR

This paper introduces non-uniform programmable photonic waveguide meshes with defect cells that significantly enhance spectral and temporal resolution, enabling ultra-fast optical processing and broadening applications in photonics and quantum computing.

Contribution

It presents a novel design of non-uniform waveguide meshes with defect cells, achieving spectral range multiplication and faster sampling times compared to traditional uniform meshes.

Findings

Achieved up to tenfold spectral range multiplication (133 GHz)

Reduced sampling times from 75 ps to 7.5 ps

Enhanced spectral and temporal tunability in photonic circuits

Abstract

Programmable integrated photonics has emerged as a powerful platform for implementing diverse optical functions on a single chip through software-driven reconfiguration. At the core of these processors, photonic waveguide meshes enable flexible light routing and manipulation. However, recirculating waveguide meshes are fundamentally limited by the fixed dimensions of their unit cells, constraining their spectral and temporal resolution. These limitations hinder broadband signal processing and high-precision delay-line applications. Here, we introduce the concept of non-uniform programmable waveguide meshes by incorporating defect cells into an otherwise uniform hexagonal architecture. These defect cells preserve an external hexagonal perimeter for seamless integration while embedding smaller internal subcells that modify the spectral response via the Vernier effect. By coupling cells with different optical path lengths, we achieve a free spectral range multiplication of up to tenfold, reaching 133 GHz-surpassing the capabilities of conventional silicon ring resonators. Additionally, we demonstrate a dramatic reduction in sampling times from 75 ps to 7.5 ps, enabling ultra-fast optical signal processing and high-precision delay tuning. This approach unlocks new degrees of freedom in programmable photonic circuits, offering enhanced spectral and temporal tunability. Beyond broadband signal processing, it paves the way for advanced applications in topological photonics, quantum information processing, and high-speed optical computing.