An ARROW optical wavelength filter: design and analysis

A novel ARROW (antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide)-based optical wavelength filter is proposed. The modal characteristics of the coupled ARROW structures is analyzed rigorously by the transverse resonance method. As an alternative configuration to the conventional directional coupler filter, the proposed device features large core size compatible with fiber and nearly periodic dependence of the coupling-length on the waveguide separation, which provides more flexibility for fabrication of the device. A design procedure for this type of coupled ARROW structure used for wavelength filtering is presented. The devices designed are simulated and verified by the beam propagation method. An ARROW wavelength filter based on SiO/sub 2//TiO/sub 2/ has a FWHM bandwidth narrower than 7 AA. >