We propose the Fourier Modal Method (FMM) as a convenient numerical tool for the design and analysis of nonlinear optical waveguides. The scope of this work includes the design of a polarization-independent nonlinear cross-slot waveguide for telecommunication applications at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The FMM method has been implemented, obeying the proper Fourier factorization rules, within a MATLAB^TM environment. The influence of the modal field intensity on the transverse refractive index distribution due to the optical Kerr effect is modeled with FMM for a propagation invariant scheme of the waveguide. The waveguide is geometrically optimized for an enhanced nonlinear light matter interaction. A silicon-inorganic hybrid material platform based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is considered for the mentioned waveguide. With the optimized design of the waveguide, the achieved value of the nonlinear waveguide parameter (γ) is 4.678 × 10⁴ W^-1Km^-1.

Date Published: 1 May 2014
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 9133, Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits IV, 913313 (1 May 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2048994

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9133:
Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits IV
Laurent Vivien; Seppo Honkanen; Lorenzo Pavesi; Stefano Pelli; Jung Hun Shin, Editor(s)