Jinghui Zou

On-chip multiplexing conversion between wavelength division multiplexing–polarization division multiplexing and wavelength division multiplexing–mode division multiplexing

A compact silicon-on-insulator device used for conversions between polarization division multiplexing (PDM) and mode division multiplexing (MDM) signals is proposed and experimentally demonstrated by utilizing a structure combining the improved two-dimensional grating coupler and two-mode multiplexer. The detailed design of the proposed device is presented and the results show the extinction ratio of 16 and 20 dB for X- and Y-pol input, respectively. The processing of 40  Gb/s signal is achieved within the C-band with good performance. The proposed converter is capable of handling multiple wavelengths in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks, enabling the conversions between WDM-PDM and WDM-MDM, which is promising to further increase the throughput at the network interface.

High-order all-optical differential equation solver based on microring resonators

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a feasible integrated scheme to solve all-optical differential equations using microring resonators (MRRs) that is capable of solving first- and second-order linear ordinary differential equations with different constant coefficients. Employing two cascaded MRRs with different radii, an excellent agreement between the numerical simulation and the experimental results is obtained. Due to the inherent merits of silicon-based devices for all-optical computing, such as low power consumption, small size, and high speed, this finding may motivate the development of integrated optical signal processors and further extend optical computing technologies.

Single step etched two dimensional grating coupler based on the SOI platform

We design and demonstrate a single step etched two dimensional grating coupler (2D GC) based on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform using subwavelength cylinders. Taking the lag effect into consideration, the 2D GC is manufactured in the same lithography and etching processes with the strip waveguide. The measured coupling loss of the proposed 2D GC is -6.0 dB, which is comparable with conventional shallowly etched 2D GC, realizing a fabrication simplification without performance degradation.

An SOI based polarization insensitive filter for all-optical clock recovery.

We propose and fabricate an SOI based polarization diversity scheme consisting of two 2D grating couplers and a micro ring resonator. Based on this scheme, all-optical polarization insensitive clock recovery has been demonstrated successfully.

Silicon based polarization insensitive filter for WDM-PDM signal processing

We propose and fabricate a novel circuit that combines two two-dimensional (2D) grating couplers and a microring resonator (MRR). According to the polarization states, one 2D grating coupler first splits the input signals into two orthogonal paths, which co-propagate in the loop and share a common MRR, and then the two paths are combined together by the other 2D grating coupler. The proposed circuit is polarization insensitive and can be used as a polarization insensitive filter. For demonstration, the wavelength division and polarization division multiplexing (WDM-PDM) non return-to-zero differential-phase-shift-keying (NRZ-DPSK) signals can be demodulated successfully. The bit error ratio measurements show an error free operation, reflecting the good performance and the practicability.

Ultra efficient silicon nitride grating coupler with bottom grating reflector.

We theoretically propose a silicon nitride (Si(3)N(4)) grating coupler (GC) with both ultrahigh efficiency and simplified fabrication processes. Instead of using a bottom distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) or metal reflector, a bottom Si grating reflector (GR) with comparable reflectivity is utilized to improve the coupling efficiency. The fully etched Si GR is designed based on an industrially standard silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer with 220 nm top Si layer. By properly adjusting the trench width and period length of the Si GR, a high reflectivity over 90% is obtained. The Si(3)N(4) GC is optimized based on a common 400 nm Si(3)N(4) layer sitting on the Si GR with a SiO(2) separation layer. With an appropriate distance between the Si(3)N(4) GC and bottom Si GR, a low coupling loss of -1.47 dB is theoretically obtained using uniform GC structure. A further record ultralow loss of -0.88 dB is predicted by apodizing the Si(3)N(4) GC. The specific fabrication processes and tolerance are also investigated. Compared with DBR, the bottom Si GR can be easily fabricated by single step of patterning and etching, simplifying the fabrication processes.

Short and efficient mode-size converter designed by segmented-stepwise method.

We present an efficient segmented-stepwise method to design a short and low-loss mode-size converter. A silicon-on-insulator platform-based converter with 20 μm length and 95.2% conversion efficiency is acquired by taking only 10 optimization generations using 2D-FDTD method. A 3D-FDTD simulation is performed to verify the calculated results, returning an efficiency of 92.1%. The proposed device can be used to connect a 12-μm-wide waveguide and a 0.5-μm-wide single-mode waveguide, with comparable performance of a regular scheme using 150-μm-long linear taper. For demonstration, the converter was fabricated by electron-beam-lithography and inductively-coupled-plasma etching. A conversion loss of -0.62±0.02  dB at 1550 nm was experimentally measured.

SOI based ultracompact polarization insensitive filter for PDM signal processing.

We propose and fabricate a scheme that combines a two-dimensional (2D) grating coupler and a delay interferometer (DI) in a loop configuration. According to the polarization states, the 2D grating coupler first splits the input signals into two paths, which copropagate in the loop and share a common DI, and then combines the two paths together to the same input port. The proposed device is polarization insensitive and can be used for polarization division multiplexed (PDM) signal processing. For demonstration, the PDM non return-to-zero differential-phase-shift-keying signals can be demodulated successfully. The bit error ratio measurements show an error free operation, reflecting the good performance and the practicability of the proposed device.

Two-dimensional grating coupler with a low polarization dependent loss of 0.25 dB covering the C-band

We design and demonstrate a two-dimensional grating coupler (2D GC) with a low polarization dependent loss (PDL) based on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. Using a grating cell consisting of five cylinders and carefully optimizing the distances between the cylinders, a maximum PDL of 0.25 dB covering the C-band is realized, which is 1.25 dB better than a conventional 2D GC with a single cylinder etching pattern fabricated on the same SOI wafer.

Wide Locking Range and Multi-Channel Clock Recovery Using a Silicon Microring Resonator

An all-optical clock recovery (CR) scheme with wide locking range is demonstrated, based on a silicon microring resonator (MRR) and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The MRR with a free spectral range of 40 GHz works as a comb filter, which removes the modulation information, whereas the SOA operating in the saturation regime performs amplitude equalization to achieve a good optical clock signal. The design of the MRR is investigated according to the tolerance of the subsequent equalizer. Based on the fabricated MRR, single and dual channels CR from 40 Gb/s input data streams can be achieved successfully with root mean square time jitter of ~ 900 fs. Because of the moderate finesse of the MRR, the CR can be achieved with a wide range of several gigahertz.