Advanced Applications of Two-Dimensional Coupled Microring Resonator Networks

本论文的主要研究方向是集成光子器件领域，重点关注耦合微谐振器在光通信和光互连系统中的应用。微波谐振器是行波光学谐振器，由于其紧凑的尺寸、多功能性以及易于制造和集成，其已经成为许多光子集成电路中的关键构建块。微波谐振器的一个重要应用是通过将多个谐振器耦合在一起来构造高阶光学滤波器。传统的微带滤波器是基于一维耦合拓扑结构，只能实现有限的光谱响应。通过将耦合拓扑扩展到二维（2D），可以合成更丰富的光谱特性，用于光谱工程中的高级应用，例如高性能滤波器和色散补偿器。 研究的目的是研究和探索一种新型的二维CMR网络，即具有复场耦合系数的网络的新应用。在这些装置中，相邻谐振器之间的功率交换经由电磁场的幅度和相位两者发生，从而产生在具有真实的耦合系数的常规CMR中不存在的新颖效应。本研究的目的是发展设计和实现具有复杂场耦合的一般二维CMR网络的理论和技术。新颖的应用，如带通滤波器与内置的色散补偿波分复用（WDM）通信系统，和新兴的一类制造宽容的拓扑保护的光子器件将被提出和实验证明在硅材料。后一种器件基于电子系统中的2D拓扑绝缘体的概念，具有独特的特性，例如对结构无序的鲁棒性，使这些器件对制造缺陷具有高度的耐受性。 除了微谐振器领域的进步外，该研究还有望为硅集成光子技术的发展做出贡献。硅光子学正迅速成为制造光子集成电路的行业标准，这是由于对WDM和光学互连应用的低成本和大规模集成光学元件的需求不断增长。这项研究为培养硅光子学理论和技术发展方面的高素质人才提供了极好的机会。预计通过研究计划获得的专业知识，知识产权开发和HQP培训将有助于加速加拿大硅光子学行业以及更广泛的光学和电信行业的发展。

The proposed research is in the area of integrated photonic devices, with focus on advanced applications of coupled microring resonators (CMRs) for optical communication and optical interconnect systems. Microring resonators are travelling-wave optical resonators which have become a key building block in many photonic integrated circuits, thanks to their compact sizes, versatility, and ease of fabrication and integration. One of the most important applications of microring resonators is the construction of high-order optical filters by coupling multiple resonators together. Conventional microring filters are based on the one-dimensional (1D) coupling topology, which can only realize a limited set of spectral responses. By extending the coupling topology to two dimensions (2D), much richer spectral characteristics can be synthesized for advanced applications in optical spectral engineering, such as high-performance filters and dispersion compensators. The objective of the research is to investigate and explore novel applications of a new type of 2D CMR networks, namely those with complex field coupling coefficients. In these devices power exchange between adjacent resonators takes place via both the magnitude and phase of the electromagnetic fields, giving rise to novel effects not present in conventional CMRs with real coupling coefficients. The research aims to develop theory and techniques for designing and realizing general 2D CMR networks with complex field couplings. Novel applications such as bandpass filters with built-in dispersion compensation for Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) communication systems, and the emerging class of fabrication-tolerant topologically-protected photonic devices will be proposed and experimentally demonstrated in the silicon material. The latter devices are based on the concept of 2D topological insulators in electronic systems, with unique properties such as robustness against structural disorder making these devices highly tolerant to fabrication imperfections. In addition to advancements in the field of microring resonators, the research is also expected to contribute to the development of silicon integrated photonics technology. Silicon photonics is rapidly becoming the industry standard for manufacturing photonic integrated circuits, driven by the growing demand for low-cost and large-scale integrated optics components for WDM and optical interconnect applications. The proposed research provides excellent opportunities for training highly-qualified personnel (HQP) in both the theoretical and technological development of silicon photonics. It is expected that the expertise gained, intellectual property developed and HQP trained through the research program will help accelerate the development of silicon photonics industry in Canada, as well as the broader optics and telecommunication industries.