Compact Mid-Infrared Chalcogenide Glass Photonic Devices Based on Robust-Inverse Design

Mid-infrared (mid-IR) on-chip photonic devices have attracted increasing attention because of their potential applications in chemical and biological sensing and optical communications. In particular, chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) have long been regarded as promising materials for mid-IR integrated photonics, owing to their broad infrared transparency, high nonlinearity, and excellent processing capabilities. Here, an inverse design approach is introduced to ChG photonic device design with a new robust inverse design method. A high-performance mid-IR inverse design polarization beam splitter, waveguide polarizer, mode converter, and wavelength demultiplexer are demonstrated for the first time. They all have a footprint of only several micrometers. The robust inverse design method could improve the robustness of device performance against fabrication variations and would be a general approach for designing and optimizing miniaturized chalcogenide photonic devices.

Automated summary

Using an inverse design approach, high-performance mid-IR photonic devices such as polarization beam splitters, waveguide polarizers, mode converters, and wavelength demultiplexers with a footprint of only several micrometers are demonstrated for the first time. These devices, made from chalcogenide glasses, have potential applications in chemical and biological sensing as well as optical communications. The robust inverse design method improves device performance against fabrication variations and can be a general approach for designing and optimizing miniaturized chalcogenide photonic devices.