Optimal design of thermo-optic devices on the silicon-oninsulator platform

Abstract

A novel design of devices based on the thermo-opticeffect in silicon on insulator (SOI) waveguides is presented. In order to evaluate accurately the temperature distribution and speed of  the  device, the heat transfer equation is to be solved  numerically. It will be shown in this paper how the new thermo-optic waveguide  structure, in which air trenches are made, can improve the performance of the thermo-optic device. In addition, a new formula for calculating the phase shift induced by the thermo-optic effect is proposed.