60-Gb/s Mode Division Multiplexing and Wavelength Division Multiplexing in Si Multimode Waveguides

Abstract

A silicon photonic waveguide system with mode-division and wavelength-division-multiplexing capabilities is demonstrated. Error-free (BER < 10 −12 ) data transmission of 2 modal channels and 3-wavelengths operating with aggregate bandwidth of 60-Gb/s is realized. This work motivates future bandwidth scalability of silicon photonic interconnects.

Experimental Demonstration of Spatial Scaling for High-Throughput Transmission Through A Si Mode-Division-MultiplexingWaveguide

“…From these curves, the power penalty at BER = 10 −9 average out to be 2 dB for 2 modes and 5 to 7 dB for 3 modes with respect to the system B2B. While the two mode system described in [4] exhibited a 0.6 dB PP in MDM operation, it is noted that regions were chosen in consideration of optimality for all three arms in this three modal arm device. Regions with lower amount of crosstalk could be chosen for just two arms.…”

“…An asymmetric, 3-channel Y-junction device designed as described in [4] was used in this experiment as a mode multiplexer and demultiplexer. Prior to testing, device characterization was done to find the optimal operating regimes that minimized the crosstalk between channels.…”

“…Data rates can be increased substantially for a given spatial density with these multi-mode devices (MMD). Previous demonstration has shown a silicon photonic interconnect with 2 modal channels and 3 wavelengths propagating data simultaneously [4]. In this paper, it is shown that it is possible to scale the waveguide from 2 modal channels, supporting 2x10-Gb/s data transmission with a power penalty (PP) of 2 dB, to 3 modal channels, supporting 3x10-Gb/s data transmission, but not without sustaining PP 3 to 5 dB greater than that of dual mode operation.…”