Integrated nanophotonic wavelength router based on an intelligent algorithm

Abstract

Nanophotonic wavelength routers, which can separate and steer different incident optical wavelengths into different output ports, play a key role in many applications of integrated photonic devices. We design and experimentally demonstrate ultrasmall broadband wavelength routers using an intelligent algorithm that combines a genetic algorithm and the finite element method. The size of the device is only 1.4  μm×1.8  μm, around the optical communication range, and is the smallest one demonstrated experimentally. The maximum transmission is 98% in the simulation and 71% in the experiment. Moreover, we show that various wavelength routers with different materials (both dielectric and metal), different structures, different output ports, and different operation bands can be conveniently designed using the intelligent algorithm. The average position error tolerance for each cell structure is about ±20  nm for all the wavelength routers designed by our intelligent algorithm, which is possible with current nanofabrication technology. This work provides a universal platform for the realization of nanophotonic wavelength routers, and enables the design and integration of nanophotonic devices.