Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2001.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972-
Other Authors: Lionel C. Kimerling.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8768
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author Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972-
author2 Lionel C. Kimerling.
author_facet Lionel C. Kimerling.
Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972-
author_sort Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972-
collection MIT
description Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2001.
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spelling mit-1721.1/87682022-01-13T07:54:33Z Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972- Lionel C. Kimerling. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering Materials Science and Engineering. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2001. Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-142). In this thesis, guiding and routing of optical signals in high index difference ([delta]m) waveguide systems are studied for silicon microphotonic applications. High [delta]n waveguide systems offer compact device sizes that enable highly dense integrated optics suitable for silicon microphotonics. Scattering loss due to the roughness at the core/cladding interfaces is identified as a major source of loss in a high M system. Using both experimental and theoretical approaches, the interdependence of scattering loss, waveguide dimension, and roughness is investigated. We developed a 3 dimensional model that successfully explains the scattering loss dependence on the waveguide dimension. Using this model, a loss contour map is constructed to better understand the scattering loss from interface roughness. This map provides an effective methodology to reduce roughness scattering, which we used to develop two fabrication technologies. Loss reduction from 32 dB/cm to 0.8 dB/cm is achieved for [delta]n =2.0. This is the lowest loss ever achieved for a single-mode, high An system. PolySi/Si02 waveguide systems are investigated due to the compatibility of multi-level processing. Our best PolySi/Si02 waveguide shows additional 10 dB/cm loss, coming mainly from the top surface roughness due to grain boundary grooving. compared to a Si/Si02 waveguide. Compact high An routing devices such as round bends, Y-splitters, and Multi-Mode Interference (MMI) splitters are fabricated and tested. We show that single-mode waveguide bends exhibit μm size bending with low loss and single-mode splitters show splitting with good uniformity. MMis show advantages over equivalent Y-splitter based structures in terms of size and loss. Our MMI design led to the fabrication of the smallest optical 1x16 fanout ever built. High Transmission Cavity (HTC) based bends, splitters, and resonators, that are compatible with an anisotropic etching technique, are demonstrated. An index engineering map, which shows competing trends of minimum bending radius and scattering loss as tin is changed. is constructed. From this map, the optimal M can be found for a given fabrication technology. Improvement in the fabrication technology allows for higher tin and provides a scaling law in optical devices. This point is proven by our 0.8 dB/cm Si/Si02 waveguides, which lifts the upper limit of the usable [delta]n. by Kevin Kidoo Lee. Ph.D. 2005-08-23T15:10:09Z 2005-08-23T15:10:09Z 2001 2001 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8768 48124503 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 142 p. 8607232 bytes 8606992 bytes application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Materials Science and Engineering.
Lee, Kevin Kidoo, 1972-
Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title_full Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title_fullStr Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title_full_unstemmed Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title_short Transmission and routing of optical signals in on-chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
title_sort transmission and routing of optical signals in on chip waveguides for silicon microphotonics
topic Materials Science and Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8768
work_keys_str_mv AT leekevinkidoo1972 transmissionandroutingofopticalsignalsinonchipwaveguidesforsiliconmicrophotonics