Reconfigurable SDM Switching Using Novel Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Ding, Yunhong, Kamchevska, Valerija, Dalgaard, Kjeld, Ye, Feihong, Rameez Asif, Gross, Simon, Withford, Michael J, Galili, Michael, Morioka, Toshio, Oxenlowe, Leif Katsuo
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 19.08.2016
• Subjects: Bit error rate; C band; Couplers; Critical components; Crosstalk; Division; Fiber optic networks; Insertion loss; Integrated circuits; Multiplexing; Optical fibers; Photonics; Physics - Optics; Reconfiguration; Silicon; Switching
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1608.05645

Space division multiplexing using multicore fibers is becoming a more and more promising technology. In space-division multiplexing fiber network, the reconfigurable switch is one of the most critical components in network nodes. In this paper we for the first time demonstrate reconfigurable space-division multiplexing switching using silicon photonic integrated circuit, which is fabricated on a novel silicon-on-insulator platform with buried Al mirror. The silicon photonic integrated circuit is composed of a 7x7 switch and low loss grating coupler array based multicore fiber couplers. Thanks to the Al mirror, grating couplers with ultra-low coupling loss with optical multicore fibers is achieved. The lowest total insertion loss of the silicon integrated circuit is as low as 4.5 dB, with low crosstalk lower than -30 dB. Excellent performances in terms of low insertion loss and low crosstalk are obtained for the whole C-band. 1 Tb/s/core transmission over a 2-km 7-core fiber and space-division multiplexing switching is demonstrated successfully. Bit error rate performance below 10-9 is obtained for all spatial channels with low power penalty. The proposed design can be easily upgraded to reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer capable of switching several multicore fibers.