Two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguide 1×5 beam splitter reversely designed by downhill-simplex algorithm

Abstract

Beam splitter, whose main function is to achieve the splitting, combining and routing of optical signals, is an important component of photonic integrated circuits, passive optical network and other fields. Compared with the conventional beam splitter, photonic crystal beam splitter, which has the virtues of smaller size and higher transmission efficiency, is very suitable for high-density and large-scale integration. The traditional control variable method often used in the optimal design of photonic crystal beam splitter is time-consuming and inefficient. When parameter variables are large, it is difficult for beam splitter to achieve the optimal splitting performance. In addition, it is hard to realize flexible design of beam splitting ratio when optimizing multi-channel photonic crystal beam splitter by using this method. In this paper, a novel photonic crystal 1×5 beam splitter, in which two special Y-junction waveguides are introduced into a completely two-dimensional square lattice silicon, is proposed and optimally designed by using downhill-simplex algorithm. Firstly, to determine the optimization range of each variable, the influence of the radius of the dielectric rods in the coupling region and the radius and the lateral offset of the regulating dielectric rods in the center of the two Y-junction waveguides on the five output ports of the 1×5 beam splitter is explored respectively by using plane wave expansion method and finite difference time domain method. The results show that the optical energy coupled from the main waveguide W<sub>1</sub> to the upper and lower Y-junction waveguides can be controlled by optimizing the radius of the dielectric rods in the coupling region. The transmittance of the five output ports can be controlled in proportion by optimizing the lateral offset of the regulating dielectric rods. The total transmittance of the five output ports can be improved and the output of each port can be adjusted by optimizing the radius of the regulating dielectric rods. Then, according to the specific target of the splitting ratio, using downhill-simplex algorithm, the 1×5 beam splitter with different splitting ratio can be reversely designed by optimizing the radius of the coupling dielectric rods and the radius and the lateral offset of the regulating dielectric rods within the selected optimization range. The total transmittance of the 1×5 beam splitter is above 99%, the additional loss is less than 0.044dB, and the response time is less than 1ps. Besides, to determine the allowable error range of each optimization variable in actual processing, the machining error of the 1×5 beam splitter is analyzed, which provides a theoretical reference for the fabrication of the device. Due to the advantages of flexible splitting ratio design, high optimization efficiency, small size and excellent performance, the proposed 1×5 beam splitter will have broad application prospects in the field of photonic integrated circuits and so on.

Photonic crystal broadband 1×N beam splitter with designable splitting ratio based on genetic algorithm

“…The Photonic crystals (PhC) are artificial microstructures composed of materials with different dielectric constants that are periodically distributed in space [1]. Recently, PhC have been widely studied because of two basic properties, which are photonic band gap and photonic localization [2].…”

Photonic crystal broadband y-shaped 1 × 2 beam splitter inversely designed by genetic algorithm

“…1 Recently, PhCs have been extensively studied due to the two basic properties of photonic band gap and photonic localization. 2 PhC devices with different functions can be designed by using these two properties, such as beam splitters, 3 optical filters, 4 optical wavelength division multiplexers, 5 optical switches, 6 and all-optical logic devices. 7 Among them, beam splitter, which can perform the splitting, combining and routing of optical signals, has been widely used in the fields of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), passive optical networks, fiber-to-the-home, and so on.…”

“…Photonic crystals (PhC) are artificial microstructures made of materials with different dielectric constants that are periodically distributed in space 1 . Recently, PhCs have been extensively studied due to the two basic properties of photonic band gap and photonic localization 2 . PhC devices with different functions can be designed by using these two properties, such as beam splitters, 3 optical filters, 4 optical wavelength division multiplexers, 5 optical switches, 6 and all-optical logic devices 7 .…”