Thermal stability analysis of nonlinear optical switch based on asymmetric three-core nonlinear directional coupler with variable Gaussian coupling coefficient

• Published in: Optical Engineering Vol. 50; no. 7; p. 071104
• Main Authors: Tao, Qing, Luo, Fengguang, Cao, Lei, Hu, Jian, Cai, Dusi, Wan, Zhengwen, Zhang, Jinxing, Yu, Zhihua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Coupling coefficients; Directional couplers; Extinction; Nonlinearity; Power transmission; Refractivity; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 0091-3286; 1560-2303; 1560-2303
• DOI: 10.1117/1.3558853

We analyze the thermal stability of the power transmission efficiency and the extinction ratio in an asymmetric three-core silicon-on-insulator nonlinear directional coupler with variable Gaussian coupling coefficient. Because the refractive indices of Si and SiO materials are subject to temperature change, the effective refractive index of the nonlinear coupler varies correspondingly. When ratio (LC/b) and T change, the relative transmission efficiency error ( ) values and relative change of extinction ratio ( ) values are obtained. It can be easily shown that variation of and are negligible under LC/b ≤ 1/2. Therefore, we can set LC/b ≤ 1/2 and T ∈ [-100 K, 100 K] in order to make the power transmission efficiency and the extinction ratio work steadily. This is significant in guiding an actual nonlinear optical pulse switch fabrication.