Nonduplicate Polarization-Diversity 32 × 32 Silicon Photonics Switch Based on a SiN/Si Double-Layer Platform

Abstract

We fabricate and characterize a polarizationdiversity 32 × 32 silicon photonics switch by newly introducing SiN overpass waveguides onto our nonduplicate polarization-diversity path-independent insertion-loss switch. The SiN overpass waveguides are used to simplify the optical paths with a uniform path length between the edge couplers and the switch matrix and significantly reduce the number of waveguide intersections. The switch chip is fabricated using a 300-mm silicon-on-insulator wafer pilot line. The fabricated switch comprises more than 7,600 components, making this the largest ever complementary-metal-oxidesemiconductor-based silicon photonics circuit. The switch chip is electrically and optically packaged and evaluated for a sampled port connection with 32 paths, with an average on-chip loss of ∼35 dB and an average polarization-dependent loss of 3.2 dB where 75% of the measured paths exhibit a loss of less than 3 dB. The differential group delay is measured to be 1.7 ps. The performance can be further improved by optimizing the device design.

Silicon photonics platforms for optical communication systems, outlook on future developments

“…The average loss and standard deviation were 10.8 dB, and 0.54 dB, respectively, while the average crosstalk was less than -20 dB, and the operating wavelength range was 3.5 nm. The authors also reported on a polarization diversity 32 × 32 switch using a SiN overlap layer to reduce waveguide crossings [39]. The unit switch was a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with thermo-optic phase shifters on both arms.…”

Strictly Non-Blocking Silicon Photonics Switches

“…9 (b)) [14], and non-duplicated polarization diversity schemes (Fig. 9 (c)) [24]. The off-chip scheme consists of the two switch chips, which are packaged on each control board, and polarization beam splitters (PBSs) with fiber pigtails.…”

“…Finally, we describe the optical characteristics of a non-duplicated diversity 32 × 32 switch [24]. Figure 13 shows the distribution of the PDL, in which 32 paths (1 (input) -1' (output), 2 -2', 3 -3', .…”

Strictly Non-Blocking 8 × 8 Silicon Photonics Switch Operating in the O-Band

“…Previously, we demonstrated a low fiberto-fiber insertion loss (average 10.8 dB) 32 input-ports × 32 output-ports optical switch that utilized a path-independent insertion-loss (PILOSS) topology and thermo-optic phaseshifters [5]. Moreover, we reported a polarization-diversity 32 × 32 switch that exploited a non-duplicated switch matrix scheme based on a SiN/Si double-layer structure [6]. These optical switches were designed for the C and L-bands (1525 -1630 nm).…”