Materials science

Waveguide

Optoelectronics

Splitter

Broadband

Telecommunications

Physics

Optical power

Multi-mode optical fiber

Adiabatic process

Multiplexing

Optics

Wavelength-division multiplexing

Silicon

Polarization-division multiplexing

Computer science

Power dividers and directional couplers

Laser

Silicon on insulator

Wavelength

Insertion loss

Optical fiber

Thermodynamics

Optics Express

As an essential component of mode division multiplexing (MDM) system, a multimode 3dB power splitter with low loss, high power balance, and low mode crosstalk is highly desired. In this paper, we propose an ultra-broadband on-chip multimode 3dB optical power splitter using an adiabatic coupler and an S-bend based Y-branch. As an example, a splitter for the four-lowest modes of a rib waveguide on silicon on insulator (SOI) platform is designed. Simulation results show that the device exhibits < 0.12dB insertion losses, within ± 0.38dB power imbalances, and < -18.5dB mode crosstalks for the four-lowest modes within a large operating wavelength range of 165 nm (from 1400 nm to 1565 nm). The fabrication tolerance of gap size at the output end of the adiabatic coupler is also analyzed.

Ultra-broadband multimode 3dB optical power splitter using an adiabatic coupler and a Y-branch