This paper presents photo-induced signal taps for power monitors in planar lightwave circuits. Both periodic perturbation and non-periodic perturbation structures are discussed. The numerical models based on the volume current method are used to simulate the interaction of guided light with photo-induced periodic and non-periodic perturbations. The results are compared with those from a commercially available FDTD simulation tool. The optimized designs for the minimized polarization dependent loss taps are presented. Contrary to the power monitors currently used in planar lightwave circuits, which are based on directional coupler and deep etch technology, we propose the signal taps through photosensitive processes using laser light. Our approach is more cost efficient, flexible and reliable.

Date Published: 12 October 2005
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5970, Photonic Applications in Devices and Communication Systems, 59700I (12 October 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.628657

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5970:
Photonic Applications in Devices and Communication Systems
Peter Mascher; John C. Cartledge; Andrew Peter Knights; David V. Plant, Editor(s)