Topological Nanophotonic Wavelength Router Based on Topology Optimization

Micromachines (Basel). 2021 Nov 30;12(12):1506. doi: 10.3390/mi12121506.

Abstract

The topological nanophotonic wavelength router, which can steer light with different wavelength signals into different topological channels, plays a key role in optical information processing. However, no effective method has been found to realize such a topological nanophotonic device. Here, an on-chip topological nanophotonic wavelength router working in an optical telecom band is designed based on a topology optimization algorithm and experimentally demonstrated. Valley photonic crystal is used to provide a topological state in the optical telecom band. The measured topological wavelength router has narrow signal peaks and is easy for integration. This work offers an efficient scheme for the realization of topological devices and lays a foundation for the future application of topological photonics.

Keywords: on-chip integration; topological photonic crystal; topology optimization; wavelength router.