High-Efficiency and Compact Polarization-Insensitive Multi-Segment Linear Silicon Nitride Edge Coupler

Edge couplers are widely utilized in photonic integrated circuits and are vital for ensuring efficient chip-to-fiber coupling. In this paper, we present a high-efficiency and compact polarization-insensitive multi-segment linear silicon nitride edge coupler for coupling to high numerical aperture fi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuhao Zhang, Yi Liu, Xuhua Cao, Li Wang, Chunyuan Mu, Ming Li, Ninghua Zhu, Wei Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/10/5/510
Description
Summary:Edge couplers are widely utilized in photonic integrated circuits and are vital for ensuring efficient chip-to-fiber coupling. In this paper, we present a high-efficiency and compact polarization-insensitive multi-segment linear silicon nitride edge coupler for coupling to high numerical aperture fibers. By optimizing the thickness of the up cladding and introducing air slots in the transverse direction, we have further modified the limiting effect of the mode field. This innovative edge coupler scheme boasts a compact structure and is compatible with existing mature standard processes, with a total length of only 38 μm. We numerically demonstrate that the proposed edge coupler exhibits a low coupling loss of 0.22 dB/0.31 dB for TE/TM modes at λ = 1550 nm. Furthermore, the proposed coupler displays high wavelength insensitivity within the range of 1400–1850 nm and maintains a coupling loss of less than 0.2 dB with a manufacturing deviation of ±20 nm.
ISSN:2304-6732