High-efficiency grating-couplers: demonstration of a new design strategy

We present the design methodology and experimental characterization of compact out-of-plane focusing grating couplers for integration with magnetoresistive random access memory technology. Focusing grating couplers have recently found attention as layer-couplers for photonic-electronic integration. The components we demonstrate are designed for a wavelength of 1550 nm, fabricated in a standard 220 nm SOI photonic platform and optimized given the fabrication restrictions for standard 193-nm UV lithography. For the first time, we extend the design based on the phase matching condition to a two-dimensional (2-D) grating design with two optical input ports. We further present the experimental characterization of the focusing behaviour by spatially probing the emitted beam with a tapered-and-lensed fiber and demonstrate the polarization controlling capabilities of the 2-D FGCs.

Section: A 1d Out-of-plane Focusing Grating Couplersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Out-of-Plane Focusing Grating Couplers for Silicon Photonics Integration With Optical MRAM Technology

Becker

Krückel

Thourhout

et al. 2020

“…With four implant layers, three Si etch depths and metallization steps, these designs are available in the active device MPW calls. Additionally, more frequent passive, or passive-withheaters, MPW calls enable the fabrication of complex silicon photonics circuits [56], with single-mode rib waveguide propagation losses as low as 2.5 dB/cm, and using the hybrid highresolution e-beam lithography layer, high-efficiency grating couplers with insertion losses <1 dB [57]. The CORNER-STONE PDK is available using Luceda's IPKISS platform.…”

Section: F Cornerstone: Versatile Wafer-scale Prototypingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Open-Access Silicon Photonics Platforms in Europe

Rahim

Goyvaerts

Szelag

et al. 2019

Offering open-access silicon photonics-based technologies has played a pivotal role in unleashing this technology from research laboratories to industry. Fabless enterprises rely on the open-access of these technologies for their product development. In the last decade, a diverse set of open-access technologies with medium and high technology readiness levels have emerged. This paper provides a review of the open-access silicon and silicon nitride photonic IC technologies offered by the pilot lines of European research institutes and companies. The

“…Much work has gone into improving grating coupler efficiencies, including apodization schemes [15][16][17] and backreflecting layers [18][19][20] . While these methods improve the peak efficiency of the devices, they do not typically improve the bandwidth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inverse Design and Demonstration of Broadband Grating Couplers

Sapra

Vercruysse

et al. 2019

We present a gradient-based optimization strategy to design broadband grating couplers. Using this method, we are able to reach, and often surpass, a user-specified target bandwidth during optimization. The designs produced for 220 nm silicon-on-insulator are capable of achieving 3 dB bandwidths exceeding 100 nm while maintaining central coupling efficiencies ranging from -3.0 dB to -5.4 dB, depending on partial-etch fraction. We fabricate a subset of these structures and experimentally demonstrate gratings with 3 dB bandwidths exceeding 120 nm. This inverse design approach provides a flexible design paradigm, allowing for the creation of broadband grating couplers without requiring constraints on grating geometry.