Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of waveguide sidewall roughness on the output uniformity and phase of MMI splitters

  • Published:
Optical and Quantum Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a model for the effects of waveguide sidewall roughness on the output uniformity and phase of a 3-dB MMI splitter. We achieve this by investigating analytically the effect of sidewall roughness on mode coupling in the MMI section of the splitter using the coupled mode and coupled power equations. Using these equations, the subsequent impact of mode coupling losses on the splitter output uniformity and phase is calculated and results for 1 × 2 and 2 × 2 splitters are presented and compared. Finally, to illustrate the impact of sidewall roughness on the operation of a waveguide device, the response of a Mach Zehnder interferometer comprising 2 × 2 splitters is investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Grillot F., Vivien L., Laval S., Pascal D., Cassan E.: Size influence on the propagation loss induced by sidewall roughness in ultrasmall {SOI} waveguides. IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 16(7), 1661–1663 (2004). doi:10.1109/LPT.2004.828497

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Grillot F., Vivien L., Laval S., Cassan E.: Propagation loss in single-mode ultrasmall square silicon-on-insulator optical waveguides. J. Lightwave Technol. 24(2), 891–896 (2006). doi:10.1109/JLT.2005.861939

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Latunde-Dada K., Payne F.P.: Theory and design of adiabatically tapered multimode interference couplers. J. Lightwave Technol. 25(3), 834–839 (2007). doi:10.1109/JLT.2006.889678

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee K.K., Lim D.R., Luan H.-C., Agarwal A., Foresi J., Kimerling L.C.: Effect of size and roughness on light transmission in a Si/SiO2 waveguide: Experiments and Model. Appl. Phys. Lett. 77(11), 1617–1619 (2000). doi:10.1063/1.1308532

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Payne F.P., Lacey J.P.R.: A theoretical analysis of scattering loss from planar optical waveguides. Opt. Quantum Electron. 26, 977–986 (1994). doi:10.1007/BF00708339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcuse D.: Theory of Dielectric Optical Waveguides, p. 184. Academic Press, Boston (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder A.W., Love J.D.: Optical Waveguide Theory, p. 614. Chapman and Hall, London (1983a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder A.W., Love J.D.: Optical Waveguide Theory, pp. 616–621. Chapman and Hall, London (1983b)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UK

    Kehinde O. Latunde-Dada & Frank P. Payne

Authors
  1. Kehinde O. Latunde-Dada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frank P. Payne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kehinde O. Latunde-Dada.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Latunde-Dada, K.O., Payne, F.P. Impact of waveguide sidewall roughness on the output uniformity and phase of MMI splitters. Opt Quant Electron 40, 863–873 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-009-9269-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-009-9269-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation