Deep photonic networks for on-chip dispersion control and optimization

Abstract

In this study, we propose on-chip deep photonic networks with custom-designed Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI), allowing for the design of devices with arbitrarily defined dispersion profiles. We demonstrate a custom simulation and optimization framework to optimize dispersion and transmission profiles of these MZI-based networks. We experimentally show a proof-of-concept two-port photonic network with a highly nonintuitive, triangular dispersion profile in the C-band, while simultaneously achieving a flat band transmission with less than 0.7 dB insertion loss. We also demonstrate capabilities with multi-port photonic networks to enhance design freedom for customizable dispersion profiles, opening up new possibilities for on-chip dispersion engineering.