Modeling and optimization of 1 × 32 Y-branch splitter for optical transmission systems

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to design a low-loss 1 × 32 Y-branch optical splitter for optical transmission systems, using two different design tools employing Beam Propagation Method. As a first step, a conventional 1 × 32 Y-branch splitter was designed and simulated in two-dimensional environment of OptiBPM photonic tool. The simulated optical properties feature high loss, high asymmetric splitting ratio and a large size of the designed structure, too. In the second step of this work we propose an optimization of the conventional splitter design leading to suppression of the asymmetric splitting ratio to one-third of its initial value and to the improvement of the losses by nearly 2 dB. In addition, 50% size reduction of the designed structure was also achieved. This length-optimized low-loss splitter was then modelled in a three-dimensional environment of RSoft photonic tool and the simulated results confirm the strong improvement of the optical properties.