Two-dimensional apodized grating coupler for polarization-independent and surface-normal optical coupling
Zanyun Zhang, Xia Chen, Qian Cheng, Ali Z. Khokhar, Zan Zhang, Xingzhao Yan, Beiju Huang, Hongda Chen, Hongwei Liu, Hongqiang Li, David J. Thomson, Graham T. Reed
Abstract
A four-port grating coupler with etched square holes is proposed and demonstrated for surface-normal and polarization independent coupling. Benefiting from the perfectly vertical coupling and 1 × 4 power splitting/combing scheme, efficient polarization independent operation was achieved. The coupling efficiency was further improved by grating apodization. According to the simulations, the proposed 2D apodized grating coupler can achieve a coupling efficiency (CE) of 64.5% (-1.9 dB), a low upward back-reflection of 8.5% (-11 dB), and polarization-dependent loss (PDL) lower than 0.04 dB across the wavelength range of 1520-1620 nm. A CE of 56.3% (-2.5 dB) was experimentally measured, with PDL below 0.3 dB within the C-band and lower than 0.5 dB within the L-band. Waveguide delay lines were used to compensate the waveguide channel phase differences at the output port.