An array waveguide in a photonic integrated circuit refers to a specific

arrangement of multiple waveguides on the same chip or substrate. These

waveguides are typically made of materials with high refractive indices and are
designed to guide and confine light, much like optical fibers do.
Parallel Configuration: Array waveguides are usually designed in parallel, meaning
that multiple waveguides run side by side on the chip
Interference and Coupling: The close proximity of waveguides in an array allows
for interference and coupling effects.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM): Array waveguides are frequently used
in WDM systems, where multiple optical signals at different wavelengths are
combined, routed, and separated.
Mode Multiplexing: In addition to WDM, array waveguides can support mode-
division multiplexing (MDM). MDM involves multiple modes of light traveling
within a single waveguide.
Photonic Components: Array waveguides are essential components for various
photonic devices and circuits. They can be integrated with other elements such as
grating couplers, modulators, detectors, and amplifiers to create complex
photonic circuits tailored to specific applications.
Quantum Photonics: In quantum photonic circuits, array waveguides are used to
route and manipulate single photons for quantum information processing.
Compact and Efficient: Array waveguides offer the advantage of compactness and
integration, making them suitable for on-chip applications. They can significantly
reduce the footprint of optical components and improve overall system efficiency.

Arrayed waveguide grating

Dynamic devices
Electro optic effect:
Electro-Optic Effect
❖ Fundamentally, the operating wavelength of the filter can be changed by various tuning
mechanisms such as electro-optic, magneto-optic, thermo-optic and photo-elastic effect.
❖ Especially, the electro-optic effect is produced fast response than comparable to other
tunable mechanisms
❖ The relationship between voltage and refractive index is expressed as:
❖ V is the voltage-Threshold level=50 V
❖ n is the BTO refractive index=2.29
❖ D is the distance between two electrodes=6 µm
❖ re indicates the electro-optic coefficient =600 pmV-1
❖ For every 1V, the BTO refractive indices are increased by 0.0006.

Example: Electro-Optic Tunable Filter

LiNbO3 Optical Modulator

Electro optic modulators

Electro-optic modulator
A voltage applied to the
modulator electrodes
produces a relative phase
retardation for the two
arms of the
interferometer, which
results in intensity
modulation of the output
beam.

Electro Optic Switches:

❖ Electro-Optic Switches: The
application of an electric field to changes
the refractive index of the material.

+
v
 Thermo-Optic Switches The application of an temperature to changes the
refractive index of the material.

Inpu Outp
tI Heat uts I
er 1

I
2

Photonic Crystal Ring Resonator Based Optical Switch

 Ring Resonators-Based Switches-Problem
• The ring resonator-based platform is widely
used for switching operations due to flexible
design and excellent light confinement .
• However, this kind of structure can increase
the propagation delay time due to strong
coupling occurs at resonance wavelength.
• As a result, the device response time, data rate and transmission efficiency are
reduced.
• Alternatively, the photonic crystal waveguides-based nanostructure is used to improve
the perfomance of the switches.

• Reconfigurable Switches Mechanisms-Problem

• The reconfigurable switching mechanisms: Thermo-optic, Nonlinear, Electro-optic and
All optical effect.
• The external nanoscale heaters and electrodes are needed for thermo-optic and
electro-optic effects, respectively.
• These mechanisms generally increase power consumption and fabrication complexity.
• Alternatively, the different wavelength-based all-optical mechanism is reduced the
device power consumption and fabrication difficulty.
Reconfigurable Switches-Novelty
• Photonic crystal waveguides-based switches.
• Wavelength-based all optical reconfigurable mechanism.
• Two different Multiport Switching Platform design : 3×3 and 4×4.
• Fast response time, low input power and high data rate.
Silicon Based 3×3 Reconfigurable Switch
Structural parameters:
❖ a= 568 nm
❖ r= 130 nm
❖ n= 3.47
❖ W=1136 nm
❖ Size= 260 µm2

Silicon Based 4×4 Reconfigurable Switch

Structural parameters:
❖ a= 568 nm
❖ r= 130 nm
❖ n= 3.47
❖ W=1136 nm
❖ Size= 470 µm2
Delta – beta couplers:
Delta-beta couplers, also known as directional couplers, are essential components
used in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for coupling and transferring optical
signals between waveguides on a chip.
Role in Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs): Delta-beta couplers are passive optical
devices designed to transfer light from one waveguide to another on the same
photonic chip.
Working Principle: Delta-beta couplers operate based on the principle of
evanescent field coupling. When two waveguides are placed in close proximity on
the photonic chip, the optical mode in one waveguide can interact with the
neighboring waveguide through the evanescent field, allowing for efficient power
transfer.
Signal Splitting and Combining: Delta-beta couplers can split an incoming optical
signal into two separate output ports or combine two optical signals into a single
output port. By controlling the length and separation of the waveguides and the
coupling region, designers can determine the coupling ratio, allowing for precise
power distribution or signal combining.
Waveguide Geometry: The geometry of delta-beta couplers, including the width,
separation, and length of the waveguides, is critical in determining their
performance. By adjusting these parameters, one can tailor the coupling strength
and achieve specific coupling ratios or bandwidths.

Applications: Delta-beta couplers find applications in various photonic integrated

circuits, such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems for optical
communication, interferometers for sensors, and Mach-Zehnder modulators for
optical signal manipulation. They are also used in quantum photonic circuits for
routing and manipulating single photons.
Advantages: Delta-beta couplers offer the advantage of miniaturization and
integration. They enable the compact design of photonic circuits, reduce the need
for external optical components, and improve overall system efficiency.