A 12-channel phased-array wavelength multiplexer with multimode interference couplers

A compact 12-channel phased-array wavelength-division multiplexer based on multimode interference (MMI) couplers and useful for application with multiwavelength lasers is proposed. A suitably-chosen 1/spl times/12 MMI nonuniform power splitter is used to suppress the sidelobes of the multiplexer spectral response. Simulated results for the multiplexer designed in an InP-InGaAsP rib waveguide system and with 1-nm channel spacing at a wavelength of 1550 nm are presented. The multiplexer has a length of 3.2 mm and an insertion loss of 1.7 dB.