Reflection properties of multimode interference devices

Abstract

We report on the reflection properties of multimode interference (MMI) devices: we distinguish between reflection back into the input waveguides and internal resonance modes due to the occurrence of simultaneous self-images. Because of self-imaging, reflection can be extremely efficient, even in the case of MMI devices with optimized transmission. This conclusion is confirmed by the observed spectral behavior of InP-based ring lasers incorporating MMI 3 dB couplers and MMI power splitters. Several techniques are proposed to minimize the influence of these reflections.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>