Very compact arrayed-waveguide-grating demultiplexer using Si photonic wire waveguides

We demonstrated an arrayed-waveguide-grating (AWG) demultiplexer using Si photonic wire waveguides, for the first time. We designed and fabricated an AWG of 110 x 93 mum(2) size on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The demultiplexing function was observed in the wavelength range of 1.50-1.57 mum with a channel spacing of similar to6 nm and a free spectral range of > 90 nm. A narrower channel spacing of 1 nm is possible in an area of similar to(500 mum)(2), using an optimization of arrayed waveguides and slab waveguides.