Comparison of $Q$-Factors Between TE and TM Modes in 3-D Microsquares by FDTD Simulation

Mode characteristics of three-dimensional (3-D) microsquare resonators are investigated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation for the transverse electric (TE)-like and the transverse magnetic (TM)-like modes. For a pillar microsquare with a side length of 2 mum in air, we have Q-factors about 5 times 10
³
for TM-like modes at the wavelength of 1550 nm, which are one order larger than those of TE-like modes, as vertical refractive index distribution is 3.17/3.4/3.17 and the corresponding center layer thickness is 0.2 mum. The mode field patterns show that TM-like modes have much weaker vertical radiation coupling loss than TE-like modes. TM-like modes can have high Q-factors in a microsquare with weak vertical field confinement.