Inverse design of a broadband and compact silicon three-mode multiplexer for on-chip optical interconnect with a 705 nm bandwidth
TL;DR
An inverse-designed pixelated ultra-broadband three-mode multiplexer on SOI with a record 705 nm bandwidth, keeping insertion loss below 2.03 dB across the full 1458–2163 nm range (S+C+L+U telecom bands plus the 2 µm band). Footprint 6 × 4.8 µm², 100 nm minimum feature — to our knowledge the broadest-bandwidth mode MUX on SOI to date.
Highlights
- Record 705 nm operating bandwidth (1458–2163 nm), covering S+C+L+U and 2 µm bands
- Pixelated three-TE-mode MUX on 220 nm SOI, 6 × 4.8 µm², 100 nm minimum feature
- Insertion loss < 2.03 dB and crosstalk < −12 dB; all-mode IL < 1.02 / 1.07 dB at 1550 / 2000 nm
- Designed via edge-guided analog-and-digital optimization (EG-ADO), foundry-compatible
Citation
A. Sun et al., "Inverse design of a broadband and compact silicon three-mode multiplexer for on-chip optical interconnect with a 705 nm bandwidth," ACP 2024, Beijing, Nov. 2024.