Photonics Research, 2017, 5 (2): 02000108, Published Online: Sep. 26, 2018
Compact, submilliwatt, 2 × 2 silicon thermo-optic switch based on photonic crystal nanobeam cavities
Abstract
We propose and experimentally demonstrate a 2 × 2 thermo-optic (TO) crossbar switch implemented by dual photonic crystal nanobeam (PCN) cavities within a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. By thermally tuning the refractive index of silicon, the resonance wavelength of the PCN cavities can be red-shifted. With the help of the ultrasmall mode volumes of the PCN cavities, only ~ 0.16 mW power is needed to change the switching state. With a spectral passband of 0.09 nm at the 1583.75 nm operation wavelength, the insertion loss (IL) and crosstalk (CT) performances were measured as IL ( bar ) = 0.2 dB , CT ( bar ) = 15 dB , IL ( cross ) = 1.5 dB , and CT ( cross ) = 15 dB . Furthermore, the thermal tuning efficiency of the fabricated device is as high as 1.23 nm/mW.
Huanying Zhou, Ciyuan Qiu, Xinhong Jiang, Qingming Zhu, Yu He, Yong Zhang, Yikai Su, Richard Soref. Compact, submilliwatt, 2 × 2 silicon thermo-optic switch based on photonic crystal nanobeam cavities[J]. Photonics Research, 2017, 5(2): 02000108.