WDM C-band four channel demultiplexer using cascaded multimode interference on SiN strip waveguide structure

Faculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), Holon 5810201, Israel

Published online: 15 October 2024

Abstract

Back reflection challenges significantly constrain the efficiency of optical communication networks employing dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology, particularly those based on Silicon (Si) Multimode Interference (MMI) waveguides. To mitigate this limitation, we present a novel 1×4 optical demultiplexer design using MMI within a Silicon-Nitride (SiN) strip waveguide configuration, operating within the C-band spectrum. Our design was optimized using AI-enhanced RSoft-CAD simulations that combined the Beam Propagation Method (BPM) and Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) techniques, integrated with convolutional neural network (CNN) machine learning algorithms. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed device efficiently transmits four channels with 10 nm spacing in the C-band, showing low power loss ranging from 1.98-2.35 dB, a broad bandwidth of 7.68-8.08 nm, and excellent crosstalk suppression between 20.8-23.4 dB. Leveraging the low refractive index of SiN, we achieve ultra-low back reflection of 40.58 dB without requiring specialized angled MMI designs, which are often necessary in Si-based MMI technology. Consequently, this SiN-based MMI demultiplexer provides an effective solution for DWDM systems, enabling high data transmission rates with minimal back reflection in optical communication networks.