Photonic crystal-connected bidirectional micro-ring resonator array for duplex mode and wavelength channel (de)multiplexing

Abstract

The progress of on-chip optical communication relies on integrated multi-dimensional mode (de)multiplexers to enhance communication capacity and establish comprehensive networks. However, existing multi-dimensional (de)multiplexers, involving modes and wavelengths, face limitations due to their reliance on single-directional total internal reflection and multi-level mode conversion based on directional coupling principles. These constraints restrict their potential for full-duplex functionality and highly integrated communication. We solve these problems by introducing a photonic-like crystal-connected bidirectional micro-ring resonator array (PBMRA) and apply it to duplex mode-wavelength multiplexing communication. The directional independence of total internal reflection and the cumulative effect of the subwavelength-scale pillar within the single-level photonic crystal enable bidirectional mode and wavelength multiplexed signals to transmit among multi-pair nodes without interference, improving on-chip integration in single-level mode conversion. As a proof of concept, we fabricated a nine-channel bidirectional multi-dimensional (de)multiplexer, featuring three wavelengths and three TE modes, compactly housed within a footprint of 80  μm×80  μm, which efficiently transmits QPSK-OFDM signals at a rate of 216 Gbit/s, achieving a bit error rate lower than 10−4. Leveraging the co-ring transmission characteristic and the orthogonality of the mode-wavelength channel, this (de)multiplexer also enables a doubling of communication capacity using two physical transmission channels.