Variable optical attenuator using active multimode interference waveguide

Daniel A. May-Arrioja; Romeo J. Selvas-Aguilar; Jesus Escobedo-Alatorre; Patrick LiKamWa; Jose Javier Sanchez-Mondragon

doi:10.1117/12.592197

21 October 2004 Variable optical attenuator using active multimode interference waveguide

Daniel A. May-Arrioja, Romeo J. Selvas-Aguilar, Jesus Escobedo-Alatorre, Patrick LiKamWa, Jose Javier Sanchez-Mondragon

Proceedings Volume 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.592197
Event: 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, 2004, Porlamar, Venezuela

Abstract

We propose a new structure for an integrated variable optical attenuator using InGaAsP multiple quantum wells. The principle of operation relies on the self-imaging properties of multimode interference (MMI) waveguides. The device consists of a MMI region that is 12 μm wide by 350 μm long, with input and output waveguides that are 2 μm wide. The dimensions of the MMI are calculated such that an image of the input field is produced at the output waveguide. The last statement is true as long as the phase relation between the modes in the MMI section is kept constant. Therefore, by selectively perturbing the refractive index within the MMI section, the phase relation of the modes is altered, thereby modifying the interference properties at the output of the device. We present numerical simulations using the Finite-Difference Beam Propagation Method (FD-BPM), and demonstrate that optical attenuation is possible by selectively modulating the refractive index of a narrow region within the MMI section. A dynamic range of -37 dB can be easily obtained at a wavelength of 1.55 μm with a device insertion loss of 0.3 dB. The effects of electro-absorption on the device performance are also investigated.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel A. May-Arrioja, Romeo J. Selvas-Aguilar, Jesus Escobedo-Alatorre, Patrick LiKamWa, and Jose Javier Sanchez-Mondragon "Variable optical attenuator using active multimode interference waveguide", Proc. SPIE 5622, 5th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 8th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, (21 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.592197

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KEYWORDS

Waveguides

Brain-machine interfaces

Modulation

Refractive index

Absorption

Signal attenuation

Beam propagation method

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