Air-clad silicon pedestal structures for broadband mid-infrared microphotonics

Toward mid-infrared (mid-IR) silicon microphotonic circuits, we demonstrate broadband on-chip silicon structures, such as: (i) straight and bent waveguides and (ii) beam splitters, utilizing an air-clad pedestal configuration which eliminates the need for typical mid-IR-lossy oxide cladding. We illustrate a sophisticated fabrication process that can create high-quality pedestal structures in crystalline silicon, while preserving its mid-IR transparency. A fundamental waveguide mode is observed between lambda = 2.5 mu m and lambda = 3.7 mu m, and an optical loss of 2.7 dB/cm is obtained at lambda = 3.7 mu m. Our pedestal silicon structures show 50:50 mid-IR power splitting enabling the further development of mid-IR silicon microphotonics. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America