Metastructured photonic devices for multiplexing or demultiplexing of optical signals
Photonic devices, photonic integrated circuits, optical elements, and techniques of making and using the same are described. A photonic device includes an input region adapted to receive an optical signal including a multiplexed channel characterized by a distinct wavelength, a dispersive region optically coupled with the input region to receive the optical signal, the dispersive region including a plurality of sub-regions defined by an inhomogeneous arrangement of a first material and a second material, and a plurality of output regions optically coupled with the input region via the dispersive region. The plurality of sub-regions can include an input channel section, an in-coupler section, a parallel channel section, an out-coupler section, and an output channel section. The plurality of sub-regions together can configure the photonic device to demultiplex the optical signal and to isolate the multiplexed channel at a first output region of the plurality of output regions.
1. A photonic device, comprising:
input region adapted to receive an optical signal including a multiplexed channel, the multiplexed channel characterized by a distinct wavelength;
a dispersive region, optically coupled with the input region to receive the optical signal, the dispersive region including a plurality of sub-regions defined by an inhomogeneous arrangement of a first material and a second material; and
a plurality of output regions, optically coupled with the input region via the dispersive region;
wherein:
the plurality of sub-regions include an input channel section, an in-coupler section, a parallel channel section, an out-coupler section, and an output channel section; and
the plurality of sub-regions together configure the photonic device to demultiplex the optical signal and to isolate the multiplexed channel at a first output region of the plurality of output regions.
2. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the in-coupler section comprises a first inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material that configures the in-coupler section to optically couple the input region with the parallel channel section, the first inhomogeneous distribution being characterized by a first region having a higher composition of the first material than the second material and a second region having a higher composition of the second material than the first material, and wherein the first region is characterized by a curvilinear periphery in planar cross-section.
3. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the parallel channel section comprises a first plurality of channels defined by a second inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material, wherein the first plurality of channels is optically intercoupled to permit electromagnetic interference therebetween, and wherein the first plurality of channels are formed of the first material between an irregular boundary formed of the second material.
4. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the output channel section comprises a second plurality of channels defined by a third distribution of the first material and the second material and wherein the second plurality of channels are formed of the first material between boundaries formed of the second material.
5. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the out-coupler section comprises a fourth inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material that configures the out-coupler section to:
optically couple the output channel section with the parallel channel section; and
induce interference in the optical signal that at least partially isolates the multiplexed channel at a first output channel of the output channel section,
wherein the fourth inhomogeneous distribution is characterized by a third region having a higher density of the first material than of the second material and a fourth region having a higher density of the second material than of the first material, and wherein the third region is characterized by a curvilinear periphery in planar cross-section.
6. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the optical signal comprises a plurality of multiplexed channels characterized by respective distinct wavelength channels and wherein the plurality of sub-regions together configure the photonic device to demultiplex the multiplexed optical signal and to isolate the plurality of multiplexed channels at respective output regions of the plurality of output regions.
7. The photonic device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of distinct channels comprises:
a first distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1266 nm;
a second distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1269 nm;
a third distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1312 nm; and
a fourth distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1366 nm.
8. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the photonic device is characterized by a length in a first dimension from about 1 μm to about 100 μm, and a width in a second dimension from about 1 μm to about 100 μm, wherein the first dimension is orthogonal to the second dimension.
9. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-regions is optically continuous in at least two dimensions over the dispersive region.
10. The photonic device of claim 1 , wherein the inhomogeneous arrangement of the first material and the second material comprises a plurality of islands of the second material disposed in a matrix of the first material, and wherein the matrix is coextensive with the dispersive region.
11. A photonic device, comprising:
a plurality of input regions adapted to receive a plurality of distinct channels characterized by respective distinct wavelengths;
a dispersive region, optically coupled with the plurality of input regions to receive respective distinct channels of the plurality of distinct channels, the dispersive region including a plurality of sub-regions defined by an inhomogeneous arrangement of a first material and a second material; and
an output region, optically coupled with the plurality of input regions via the dispersive region;
wherein:
the plurality of sub-regions include an input channel section, and in-coupler section, a parallel channel section, an out-coupler section, and an output channel section; and
the plurality of sub-regions together configure the photonic device to multiplex the plurality of distinct channels and to provide a multiplexed output signal at the output region.
12. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the input channel section comprises a first inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material that configures the input channel section to optically couple the plurality of input regions with the in-coupler section, wherein the input channel section comprises a first plurality of channels defined by the first inhomogeneous distribution, and wherein the first plurality of channels is optically intercoupled to permit electromagnetic interference therebetween.
13. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the in-coupler section comprises a second inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material that configures the in-coupler section to optically couple the input channel section with the parallel channel section, the second inhomogeneous distribution being characterized by a first region having a higher density of the first material than of the second material and a second region having a higher density of the second material than of the first material, and wherein the first region is characterized by a rectilinear periphery in planar cross-section.
14. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the parallel channel section comprises a second plurality of channels defined by a third inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material, wherein the second plurality of channels is optically intercoupled to permit electromagnetic interference therebetween, and wherein the channels of the first plurality of channels are formed of the first material between an irregular boundary formed of the second material.
15. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the out-coupler section comprises a fifth inhomogeneous distribution of the first material and the second material that configures the out-coupler section to optically couple the output channel section with the parallel channel section, the fifth inhomogeneous distribution being characterized by a third region having a higher density of the first material than of the second material and a fourth region having a higher density of the second material than of the first material, and wherein the third region is characterized by a rectilinear periphery in planar cross-section.
16. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the output channel section comprises an output channel defined by a fourth distribution of the first material and the second material, and wherein the output channel section is configured to optically couple the out-coupler section with the output region.
17. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of distinct channels comprises:
a first distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1266 nm;
a second distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1269 nm;
a third distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1312 nm; and
a fourth distinct wavelength channel characterized by a central wavelength of about 1366 nm.
18. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the photonic device is characterized by a length in a first dimension from about 1 μm to about 100 μm and a width in a second dimension from about 1 μm to about 100 μm, wherein the first dimension is orthogonal to the second dimension.
19. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sub-regions is optically continuous in at least two dimensions over the dispersive region.
20. The photonic device of claim 11 , wherein the inhomogeneous arrangement of the first material and the second material comprises a plurality of islands of the second material disposed in a matrix of the first material, and wherein the matrix is coextensive with the dispersive region.