Study of the optical properties of 1×16 splitter based on Y-branch and MMI approaches

• Published in: 2016 18th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON) pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Burtscher, C., Seyringer, D., Lucki, M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01-07-2016
• Subjects: High-speed optical techniques; Integrated optics; MMI splitter; multimode interference splitter; Optical device fabrication; Optical fibers; Optical polarization; optical splitting; Y-branch splitter
• ISSN: 2161-2064
• DOI: 10.1109/ICTON.2016.7550642

In this paper we investigate optical properties of 1×16 splitters based on Y-branch and MMI approaches. These splitters were designed, simulated and the obtained results of both approaches were studies and compared with each other. Additionally, we will show that the used standard waveguide core size (usually 6 × 6 μm 2 to match the diameter of the single mode input/output fibers, i.e. to keep the coupling loses as low as possible) supports not only propagation of the single mode but of the first mode too, leading to an asymmetric splitting ratio (increasing non-uniformity of the split power over all the output waveguides). Decreasing waveguide core size it is possible to suppress presence of the first mode and this way to reduce non-uniformity.