Photonic integrated detector having a plurality of asymmetric waveguides

摘要

A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) device comprising two or more vertically stacked asymmetric waveguides is provided. A photo-detector PIC device comprises a coupling waveguide for providing low-coupling loss with an external optical fiber and for guiding primarily a first mode of light, a second waveguide vertically coupled to the first waveguide for guiding primarily a second mode of light having an effective index of refraction different from the first mode, and a photo-detector vertically coupled to the second waveguide. Light received at the coupling waveguide is moved into the second waveguide via a lateral taper in the second waveguide. The photo-detector PIC device may further comprise a third waveguide having an optical amplifier therein and positioned between the coupling waveguide and the second waveguide.