Coupled mode analysis of in-plane channel drop filters with resonant mirrors

A channel drop filter system that consists of two waveguides and three cavities is studied. One cavity couples with both waveguides, while the other two work as resonant mirrors to reflect the selected channel back into the system. The operation of this configuration is analyzed, using coupled mode theory. The conditions to achieve 100% in-plane channel transfer are derived. A method to suppress the side lobes of reflection and backward drop is also proposed. The direct coupling between the cavities is not required. The analysis is verified by two-dimensional finite difference time domain simulations in 2D hexagonal photonic crystals.