Waveguide Basics

Optical Fiber: Circular dielectric waveguide made of silica (SiO2)

y y

Cladding
φ
Core r z Fiber axis
SiO2:Ge
Loss in rectangular metal waveguide
n
n2 n1

The step index optical fiber. The central region, the core, has greater refractive
index
Whatthan the outerabout
is special region,fiber?
the cladding. The fiber has cylindrical symmetry. We
use the coordinates r, φ , z to represent any point in the fiber. Cladding is
- Extremely
E t much
normally l llow lloss:
thicker :0
0.2dB/km
than 2dB/k
shown.
- Can be very long: 100’s of km
?1999 S.O. Kasap, Optoelectronics (Prentice Hall)

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Loss in fiber
10
5
OH- absorption peaks
Loss
(dB/km)
1.0
0.5 1550 nm
Rayleigh Lattice
scattering absorption
1310 nm
0.1
0.05
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
Wavelength (λ)

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

r
Buffer tube: d = 1mm

Protective polymerinc coating

Cladding: d = 125 - 150 μm
n
n1 Core: d = 8 - 10 μm
n2
(For multi-mode fiber, d: several tens of μm)
for single-mode fiber

The cross section of a typical single-mode fiber with a tight buffer

tube.
Optical (d = diameter)
Power Distribution
In Single-Mode
?1999 S.O. Kasap, Fiber
Optoelectronics (Prentice Hall)

What confines light inside core?

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

θt E t n2 (= 1.44)
1 44)

E in θ
i θr E r n1 (= 1.0)
1 0)

1 1
Er cos θi − ⎡⎣ n − sin θi ⎤⎦ ⎡⎣ n 2 − sin 2 θi ⎤⎦ 2 − n 2 cos θi
2 2 2

r⊥ = = r|| = 1
Ei cos θ + ⎡ n 2 − sin 2 θ ⎤ 12 ⎡⎣ n − sin θi ⎤⎦ 2 + n 2 cos θi
2 2
i ⎣ i⎦

E 2 cos θi n 2n cos θi
t⊥ = t = (n = 2 ) t|| = 1
Ei cos θ + ⎡ n 2 − sin 2 θ ⎤ 1 2 n1 ⎡⎣ n − sin θi ⎦⎤
2 2 2
+ n 2 cos θi
i ⎣ i⎦

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

n2 = 1.0
θt E t

E in θ θr E r
i

n1 = 1.44

What happens at θ c = sin n ?

−1

1
Er cos θi − ⎣⎡ n − sin θi ⎦⎤ r becomes complex !
2 2 2

r⊥ = = ( magnitude 1, phase shift)

Ei cos θ + ⎡ n 2 − sin 2 θ ⎤ 1 2
i ⎣ i⎦

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

n2 = 1.0
θt E t

E in θ θr E r
i

n1 = 1.44

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

n2 y
y=d/2
3 l
3-layer di
dielectric
l t i waveguide
uid d n1 y=0
0 z
y=-d/2
n2

Full analysis starting from wave equations.

∂2 E
∇ E ( y, z, t ) = μ
2
με 2 ( y, z, t )
∂t
Assuming E ( y, z , t ) = E ( y, z ) ⋅ e jωt ,

∇ 2 E + k 2 ( y ) E = 0, h k 2 ( y ) = με ( y )ω 2
0 where

d
k ( y ) = n2 k0 for y > ; cladding
2
d
k ( y ) = n1k0 for y < ; core
2
Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi
 Waveguide Basics
n2
y=d/2 y
d n1 y=0 z
y=-d/2
n2

Consider TE Solution.

E ( y, z ) = x E ( y ) e − jβ z
d 2 E ( y)
Then, 2
+ ( k 2
( y ) − β 2
) E ( y) = 0
dy
equation Solve for β and E ( y )
=> Eigen value equation.

k 2 ( y ) − β 2 > 0 in core => E ( y ) ~ sin((k y y ) or cos((k y y ) with k y = (n1k0 ) 2 − β 2

k 2 ( y ) − β 2 < 0 in cladding => E ( y ) ~ exp(α y ) or exp(-α y ) with α = β 2 − (n2 k0 ) 2

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
n2
y=d/2 y
d n1 y=0 z
y=-d/2
n2

S l ti
Solutions
d
y> : E ( y ) = A exp(α y ) + B exp(−α y )
2
d
| y |< : E ( y ) = C sin(k y y ) + D cos(k y y )
2
d
y < − : E ( y ) = E exp(α y ) + F exp(−α y )
2

Here, A=0 and F=0.

For easy analysis, divide the solutions into even and odd solutions

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
n2
y=d/2 y
d n1 y=0 z
y=-d/2
n2

E
Even Solutions
S l ti
Apply boundary conditions:
dE ( y ) d
d E ( y ) and are continuous at y = ±
y> : E ( y ) = B exp((−α y ) d
dy 2
2
d d
d B exp(−α ) = D cos(k y ) ------- (1)
| y |< : E ( y ) = D cos(k y y ) 2 2
2
d d
d
y < − : E ( y ) = B exp(α y ) − α B exp(−α ) = −k y D sin(k y ) ----- (2)
2 2 2
( E = B) (2)
==> α = k y tan(k y )
d
(1) 2

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
n2
y=d/2 y
d n1 y=0 z
y=-d/2
n2

Odd Solutions Apply boundary conditions.

dE ( y ) d
d E ( y ) andd uous at y = ±
aree continuous
co
y> : E ( y ) = B exp(−α y ) dy 2
2
d d
d B exp(−α ) = D sin(k y ) ------- (1)
| y |< : E ( y ) = D sin((k y y ) 2 2
2
d d
d − α B exp(−α ) = k y D cos(k y ) ----- (2)
y < − : E ( y ) = − B exp(α y ) 2 2
2
( E = − B) (2) d d π
==> α = −k y cot(k y ) = k y tan(k y − )
(1) 2 2 2

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
n2
y=d/2 y
d n1 y=0 z
d
n2
y=-d/2 Even: α = k y tan(k y )
2
d π
What do these mean? Odd: α = k y tan(k y − )
2 2
Determine k y and α that satisfy above conditions.
For graphical analysis
analysis, do following normalization
normalization.
d d
Let X = k y , Y =α
2 2
Then Y = X tan X for even
Then,
π
Y = X tan( X − ) for odd Plot these on X-Y plane.
2
2 2
⎛d ⎞ ⎛d ⎞
But X + Y = ⎜ ⎟ (k y 2 + α 2 ) = ⎜ ⎟ [(n1k0 )2 − β 2 + β 2 − (n2 k0 ) 2 ]
2 2

⎝2⎠ ⎝2⎠
2
⎛d ⎞
= ⎜ ⎟ k0 2 (n12 − n2 2 ) = r 2
⎝2⎠

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Y = X tan X : even mode

d
Y =α ⋅
2
Y = X tan( X − π / 2) : odd mode
2
⎛d ⎞ 2 2
X + Y = ⎜ ⎟ k0 (n1 − n2 2 ) = r 2
2 2

m=1 ⎝2⎠
2
m=2
Observations:
m=3 - Points where circle and tangent curves
intersect are solution points
π π 3π d for ky and α (TE mode).
X = ky
2 2 2 − With larger r (larger d, smaller λ, larger
n12-n22),
) more modesd exist.
i t
- There is at least one even mode.
- Even, odd, even, odd …

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

E(y) profile: n1=1.5, n2=1.495, d=10μm, λ=1μm

TE1 TE2
TE3

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Wave is not entirely confined within core: Confinement factor

d
yy=
2

∫
2
E ( y ) dy
d
Power inside core y =−
Γ= = y =∞
2
Total Power
∫
2
E ( y ) dy
y =−∞

For higher modes, how does Γ change?

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
ω
Slope = c/n2
Sl
Slope = c/n
/ 1
TE 3

TE 2

ωcut-off
TE 1

βm

Schematic dispersion diagram, ω vs. β for the slab waveguide for various TE m. modes.
ω cut Group velocities
off corresponds
cut–off p = πdifferent
to Vare forp velocity
/2. The ggroup different at anyy ω
y vgmodes =>>
is modal of the ω vs. β
pdispersion
the slope
curve atNeed a single-mode waveguide in order to avoid signal distortion.
that frequency.
How do you design a single mode waveguide?
© 1999 S.O.
S O Kasap,
K O
Optoelectronics
l i (Prentice
(P i H Hall)
ll)

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics
n3 cladding b-V diagram for TE mode
d n1 core
co e

n2

1
V = k0 d (n12 − n2 2 ) 2

(Normalized k )

2 b
⎛β ⎞ −n 2
⎜ k ⎟
⎝ 0⎠
2
b=
n12 − n2 2
(Normalized β )

n2 2 − n32
a= 2
n1 − n2 2
(Asymmetry factor)
V

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Issues for p
practical waveguides
g

- Precise control of dimension and refractive index

- Low loss at desired λ
- Mass production possible
- Integration desirable (Integrated Optics)
- Electrical control of refractive index (Electro-Optic effect)

Materials used for waveguides

- Silica Î Optical fiber

- Semiconductors: GaAlAs, InGaAsP, Si/SiO2
- Dielectric materials: LiNbO3 with Ti doping

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

LiNbO3 waveguide

Coplanar strip electrodes

V(t)
Thin buffer layer

Polarized d
input
light
L
Ea LiNbO 3
LiNbO 3 EO Substrate x Waveguide Cross-section
z
y

Integrated tranverse Pockels cell phase modulator in which a waveguide is diffused

into an electro-optic (EO) substrate. Coplanar strip electrodes apply a transverse
field E a through the waveguide. The substrate is an x-cut LiNbO3 and typically there
is a thin dielectric buffer layer (e.g. ~200 nm thick SiO 2) between the surface
electrodes and the substrate to separate the electrodes away from the waveguide.
?1999 S.O. Kasap,
p, Optoelectronics
p ((Prentice Hall))

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Si/SiO waveguide

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Problem 1

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Problem 2

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi

 Waveguide Basics

Problem 3

Special Topics in Optical Comm.: Si Photonics (11/1) W.-Y. Choi