Design and optimization of 1.55 μm AlGaInAs MQW polarization mode controllers

Sun, X., Ye, S. , Qiu, B., Xiong, J., Liu, X., Marsh, J. and Hou, L. (2021) Design and optimization of 1.55 μm AlGaInAs MQW polarization mode controllers. Photonics, 8(10), 422. (doi: 10.3390/photonics8100422)

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Abstract

A 1.55 μm AlGaInAs multi-quantum-well (MQW) ridge waveguide polarization mode controller (PMC) is proposed. The design is based on an asymmetric half-ridge waveguide structure in which the ridge is shallow etched on one side and has a deeply etched mesa structure on the other side. The Finite-Element Method (FEM) was used to simulate the PMC and optimize its structural parameters comprehensively. Furthermore, the fabrication tolerances were also investigated in detail. The optimized PMC has a polarization conversion efficiency (PCE) of around 92.5% with a half-beat length of 1250 μm. When the PMC length was fixed at 1250 μm, to achieve a PCE derivation less than 8%, the tolerances for the ridge waveguide width and shallow etch height were 1.60 μm to 1.65 μm and 2.13 μm to 2.18 μm, respectively. In order to reduce interband gap absorption loss, the quantum well intermixing (QWI) technique was used in the model to realize a blueshift (200 nm) in the PMC. QWI is a simple, flexible, and low-cost technique for fabricating a PMC integrated with a laser diode and reduces parasitic reflections, which would otherwise degrade the overall performance. QWI also eliminates MQW material anisotropy and alleviates the birefringence effect without the need for regrowth, achieving nearly uniform properties as a bulk material.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ye, Dr Shengwei and Liu, Professor Xuefeng and Sun, Xiao and Marsh, Professor John and Hou, Dr Lianping
Creator Roles:
Sun, X.Data curation, Investigation, Software, Writing – original draft
Ye, S.Investigation
Liu, X.Conceptualization
Marsh, J.Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing
Hou, L.Conceptualization, Writing – review and editing
Authors: Sun, X., Ye, S., Qiu, B., Xiong, J., Liu, X., Marsh, J., and Hou, L.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
Journal Name:Photonics
Publisher:MDPI
ISSN:2304-6732
ISSN (Online):2304-6732
Published Online:01 October 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 The Authors
First Published:First published in Photonics 8(10): 422
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
302617Optically controlled THz phased array antennasJohn MarshEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/R042578/1ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering