Suppression of Polarization Dependence in the Design of a 11×11 Polymer/Si Arrayed Waveguide Grating

Abstract

In this paper we report an effective work of polarization independence in the design of a 11×,11 polymer arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. Theoretical analysis of the polarization properties is given by using Marcatili method. Numerical simulations are performed for independent polarization and single-mode propagation of a rectangular waveguide and bent waveguide with various geometries. The polarization dependence of the AWG device is successfully suppressed by controlling the relative index difference (Δn) between the core and the cladding, ratio between the core width and thickness (a/b), and bent radius of arrayed waveguides, considering practical technical error. The transmission characteristics of two AWGs for two parameter groups of Δn = 1%,a/b = 2 and Δn = 0.8%, a/b = 1.5, show the wavelength shift of 3.5 and 0.02 nm, respectively. The later group of data, which is used in our work, strongly supports the optimum design that we have identified for the birefringence suppression.