We design and experimentally verify a topology optimized low-loss and broadband two-mode (de-)multiplexer, which is (de-)multiplexing the fundamental and the first-order transverse-electric modes in a silicon photonic wire. The device has a footprint of 2.6 µm x 4.22 µm and exhibits a loss <1.2 dB in a 100 nm bandwidth measured around 1570 nm. The measured cross talk is <-12 dB and the extinction ratio is >14 dB in the C-band. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the design method can be expanded to include more modes, in this case including also the second order transverse-electric mode, while maintaining functionality.

We have designed and for the first time experimentally verified a topology optimized mode converter with a footprint of ~6.3 μm × ~3.6 μm which converts the fundamental even mode to the higher order odd mode of a dispersion engineered photonic crystal waveguide. 2D and 3D topology optimization is utilized and both schemes result in designs theoretically showing an extinction ratio larger than 21 dB. The 3D optimized design has an experimentally estimated insertion loss lower than ~2 dB in an ~43 nm bandwidth. The mode conversion is experimentally confirmed in this wavelength range by recording mode profiles using vertical grating couplers and an infrared camera. The experimentally determined extinction ratio is > 12 dB and is believed to be limited by the spatial resolution of our setup.

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We have designed and for the first time experimentally verified a topology optimized mode (de)multiplexer, which demultiplexes the fundamental and the first order mode of a double mode photonic wire to two separate single mode waveguides (and multiplexes vice versa). The device has a footprint of ~4.4 µm x ~2.8 µm and was fabricated for different design resolutions and design threshold values to verify the robustness of the structure to fabrication tolerances. The multiplexing functionality was confirmed by recording mode profiles using an infrared camera and vertical grating couplers. All structures were experimentally found to maintain functionality throughout a 100 nm wavelength range limited by available laser sources and insertion losses were generally lower than 1.3 dB. The cross talk was around -12 dB and the extinction ratio was measured to be better than 8 dB.

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