High-order-mode filter for semiconductor waveguides

1. An optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes that couples directly with an input optical waveguide and an output optical waveguide, the filter comprising:

an input region including a first waveguide ridge portion and a shoulder portion;

a shoulder slab;

a second waveguide ridge portion; and

first and second filter ridges;

wherein:

the input optical waveguide, the input region, the shoulder slab, the second waveguide ridge portion, and the first and second filter ridges are all integrally formed of a first material having a first index of refraction;

the shoulder portion and the first waveguide ridge portion extend along a propagation direction of the input optical waveguide;

the shoulder slab consists of a rectangular portion of the first material that defines first, second, third and fourth edges, wherein:

the shoulder slab has a near end corresponding to the first edge, the first edge being orthogonal to the propagation direction and abutting the shoulder portion of the input region, opposite a far end corresponding to the third edge, the third edge being orthogonal to the propagation direction and abutting the output optical waveguide;

the second and fourth edges of the shoulder slab are parallel to the propagation direction;

the shoulder slab is disposed on a first portion of a second material having a second index of refraction;

a second portion of the second material is disposed on and overlaps the shoulder slab, such that the second portion of the second material contacts the first portion of the second material about each of the first, second, third and fourth edges of the shoulder slab except at the input region and the output optical waveguide; and

the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction;

the second waveguide ridge portion is disposed on the shoulder slab, wherein: the second waveguide ridge portion traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end and is configured to receive light at the near end and deliver the light into the output optical waveguide at the far end;

the first filter ridge is disposed on the shoulder slab;

the first filter ridge traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end;

the first filter ridge is on a first side of the second waveguide ridge portion; and

the first filter ridge is separated from the second waveguide ridge portion by a first gap;

the second filter ridge traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end;

the second filter ridge is on a second side of the second waveguide ridge portion;

the second side of the waveguide ridge is opposite the first side of the second waveguide ridge portion; and

the second filter ridge is separated from the second waveguide ridge portion by a second gap.

2. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the second waveguide ridge portion traverses the shoulder slab in a straight line from the near end to the far end.

3. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein a combined height of the shoulder slab and the second waveguide ridge portion is greater than 0.7 μm and less than 2.0 μm.

4. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the first material is crystalline silicon.

5. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first gap is equal to a width of the second gap.

6. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder slab is less than 150 microns long, the length of the shoulder slab being measured from the near end to the far end.

7. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first gap varies along a length of the shoulder slab.

8. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder slab has beveled corners.

9. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein a width of the first filter ridge and a width of the second filter ridge are at least twice as wide as a width of the second waveguide ridge portion.

10. An optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide the filter comprising:

a shoulder slab, wherein:

the shoulder slab has a near end opposite a far end;

the shoulder slab is made of a first material having a first index of refraction;

the shoulder slab is disposed on a second material having a second index of refraction; and

the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction;

a waveguide ridge disposed on the shoulder slab, wherein:

the waveguide ridge traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end; and

the waveguide ridge is configured to receive light at the near end and guide the light to the far end;

a first filter ridge, wherein:

the first filer ridge is disposed on the shoulder slab;

the first filter ridge traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end;

the first filter ridge is on a first side of the waveguide ridge;

the first filter ridge is separated from the waveguide ridge by a first gap; and

a width of the first filter ridge extends from the first gap to a side of the shoulder slab; and

a second filter ridge, wherein:

the second filter ridge traverses the shoulder slab from the near end to the far end;

the second filter ridge is on a second side of the waveguide ridge;

the second side of the waveguide ridge is opposite the first side of the waveguide ridge;

the second filter ridge is separated from the waveguide ridge by a second gap; and

a width of the second filter ridge extends from the second gap to a side of the shoulder slab.

11. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the first filter ridge and the second filter ridge doped with a lossy material.

12. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 11 , wherein Germanium is deposited on the first filter ridge and the second filter ridge and/or at least a portion of the first filter ridge is made using Germanium.

13. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the first filter ridge and the second filter ridge are made out of the first material, and metal is deposited on the first filter ridge and on the second filter ridge.

14. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is symmetric along an axis running along a length of the second waveguide ridge portion.

15. The optical filter for attenuating higher-order modes in an optical waveguide of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is disposed inside an optical resonator.