Silicon mode (de)multiplexer enabling high capacity photonic networks-on-chip with a single-wavelength-carrier light

A small silicon mode (de)multiplexer with cascaded asymmetrical directional couplers is demonstrated experimentally. As an example, a four channel mode (de)multiplexer is designed and realized for TM polarization. The fabricated mode (de)multiplexer has a low excess loss (<1 dB) as well as low crosstalk (<= 23 dB) over a broad wavelength range (similar to 20 nm). More channels can be achieved with two sets of orthogonal-polarization modes (e. g., 2N = 8) multiplexed when desired. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America