Ultra-low-loss CMOS-compatible waveguide crossing arrays based on multimode Bloch waves and imaginary coupling

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate broadband waveguide crossing arrays showing ultralow loss of $0.04\mathrm{dB}/\text{crossing}$ (0.9%) on average and converging to $0.033\mathrm{dB}/\mathrm{crossing}$ (0.075%) matching theory and cross-talk suppression over 35 dB in a CMOS-compatible geometry. The principle of operation is the tailored excitation of a low-loss spatial Bloch wave formed by matching the periodicity of the crossing array to the difference in propagation constants of the first- and third-order TE-like modes of a multimode silicon waveguide. Radiative scattering at the crossing points acts like a periodic imaginary-permittivity perturbation that couples two supermodes, which results in imaginary (radiative) propagation-constant splitting and gives rise to a low-loss, unidirectional breathing Bloch wave. This type of crossing array provides a robust implementation of a key component enabling dense photonic integration.