Wavelength-flattened directional couplers for mirror-symmetric interferometers

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 23; no. 12; pp. 4387 - 4392
• Main Authors: Tormen, M., Cherchi, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-12-2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Criteria; Demultiplexing; Directional couplers; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Geometric modeling; Geometrical optics; Information, signal and communications theory; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Interferometers; Mathematical analysis; Multiplexing; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical devices; optical directional couplers; Optical fiber communications; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; optical planar waveguide components; Optical planar waveguides; Optical telecommunications; optical waveguide filters; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Signal and communications theory; Symmetry; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmission line matrix methods; wavelength division multiplexing; Wavelength multiplexing; Directional coupler; Optical interferometry; Design criterion; optical planar waveguide components; Interferometer; Geometric modeling; Optical waveguide components; Wavelength division multiplexing; Optical directional couplers; Optical waveguide filters; Geometrical model; Demultiplexing; Optical planar waveguides; Optical fiber communication
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2005.859430

In the context of guided optics, the authors derive, analytically and geometrically, a rigorous general criterion to design wavelength-insensitive interferometers with mirror symmetry, which are needed for wavelength multiplexing/demultiplexing. The criterion is applied to a practical case, resulting in an interferometer that works on a band wider than 70 nm.