Abstract:
This research work conducted a design and simulation of an ultra-low power all-optically
tuned nonlinear ring resonator-based add-drop filter. The purpose of this study is to investigate
a CMOS-compatible nonlinear material system for an optical filter with temperature resilience,
polarization insensitivity, and fast and energy-efficient tunability. The all-optical tunability was
achieved using an optical pump that photo-excites the high nonlinear Kerr effect in the device material
system. A three-dimensional multiphysics approach was used, combining the electromagnetics and
thermo-structural effects in the filter. Hybrid graphene on an ultra-rich silicon nitride ring resonator-
based filter enabled the realization of an ultra-high tuning efficiency (0.275 nm/mW for TE mode
and 0.253 nm/mW for TM mode) on a range of 1.55 nm and thermal stability of 0.11 pm/K. This
work contributed to the existing literature by proposing (1) the integration of a high Kerr effect layer
on a low loss, high index contrast, and two-photon absorption-free core material with an athermal
cladding material system and (2) the use of a cross-section shape insensitive to polarization. Moreover,
the tuning mechanism contributed to the realization of an all-optical on-chip integrable filter for
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing systems in the less occupied L band