Polarization-Dependent Curvature Loss in Silicon Rib Waveguides

Polarization-Dependent Curvature Loss in Silicon Rib&nb

M. Krause, H. Renner, E. Brinkmeyer,
Polarization-Dependent Curvature Loss in Silicon Rib Waveguides
IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. (Special Issue on Silicon Photonics) 12(6), pp. 1359-1362 (2006)

Abstract: We show that the quasi-TM mode in silicon rib waveguides can experience significantly less curvature loss at the same bend radius than the quasi-TE mode. Photonic devices making use only of the TM mode and a polarization-diversity scheme can thus profit from smaller possible bend radii and the resulting circuit-size reduction. The main loss mechanism for the quasi-TM rib mode can be coupling to the orthogonally polarized TE slab mode, which radiates power away from the waveguide. This is possible due to the slight hybridicity of the quasi-TM rib mode. Neglecting this hybridicity would lead to a significant underestimation of the curvature losses. Thus, accurate simulation of waveguides with low quasi-TM-mode curvature loss requires full-vectorial simulation models.

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