Three-port silicon beam splitter chip with pixelated coupling region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional three-port silicon beam splitters are large, energy-intensive, costly, and have low performance, making them unsuitable for portable wavefront reconstruction devices, and there is a need for miniaturization while maintaining high performance.
Innovation Solution
A three-port silicon beam splitter chip with a square coupling region of 18*18 pixel structures, where silicon and silicon dioxide pixel structures are discretely distributed, and optimized using particle swarm optimization to achieve a 1:1:1 split ratio and high integration, reducing size and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional three-port beam splitter is designed based on waveguide theory, then the split ratio of 1:2:1 is achieved, but the device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling region is divided into N*N pixel blocks that can be independently configured. Each pixel block acts as a discrete element that can be punched or left intact, allowing granular control over the refractive index distribution. This segmentation enables precise control of light splitting while minimizing the overall device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the coupling region have different refractive index characteristics achieved by selective punching of pixel blocks. The punched pixel blocks create local variations in refractive index that guide light distribution to achieve the desired 1:1:1 split ratio across three output ports, rather than using a uniform structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling region uses a sub-wavelength air hole array configuration, then different wavelengths can be guided simultaneously achieving large working bandwidth, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel block structure serves multiple functions: it controls refractive index distribution, guides different wavelengths simultaneously, and enables configurable beam splitting ratios. The same basic pixel block unit is used throughout the coupling region, providing a universal building block that simplifies fabrication while achieving wavelength-multiplexed functionality.
3Measurement precision
If traditional silicon beam splitters are used for wavefront reconstruction, then phase information extraction is achieved, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical or complex optical beam splitting mechanisms with a photonic crystal-based waveguide structure. The pixel block configuration creates effective refractive index variations that guide and split light through optical interference and diffraction effects, eliminating the need for moving parts or high-power control mechanisms while maintaining precise wavefront reconstruction capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design results in a compact, high-performance silicon beam splitter with improved portability and reduced energy consumption, achieving a 1:1:1 split ratio and low optical loss for vertical polarized light with a wavelength of 1550 nm.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the fact that configuration of an air hole array having a sub-wavelength size can be equivalent to an evenly decreased refractive index distribution area
Implementation Method 2
The coupling region consists of N*N pixel structures. The pixel structures include silicon pixel structures and silicon dioxide pixel structures. The silicon pixel structures and the silicon dioxide pixel structures are discretely distributed in the coupling region.
Data Source
AI summary
A three-port silicon beam splitter chip includes an input waveguide, three output waveguides, and a coupling region disposed between the input waveguide and the output waveguides and being in a square shape. The input waveguide and the output waveguide have a same width K, where 490 nm<K<510 nm, the coupling region, the input waveguide and the output waveguide have a same thickness H, where 210 nm<H<230 nm, and the coupling region has a length L, where 1600 nm<L<2000 nm. The three-port silicon beam splitter chip of the present disclosure has a high integration degree and a small size, and is capable of improving the portability of the wavefront reconstruction device.