Characterization of MMI- and AWG-based N/spl times/N devices for WDM applications

The design characteristics of multimode interference-based N/spl times/N devices, such as N/spl times/N power splitters, waveguide routers, and multiplexers-demultiplexers for wavelength division multiplexing applications, have been studied. The power loss, loss imbalance and phase characteristics of the above devices on silicon and InP have been examined by using the finite element-based beam propagation approach. An arrayed waveguide grating where the refractive index contrast or the width of the adjacent waveguides differs by a constant refractive index difference, /spl Delta/n, or width difference, /spl Delta/w, respectively, has been introduced to produce a wavelength dependent phase-shift, instead of the conventional arrayed waveguide-based arrangement with constant path length difference dispersive elements.