Integrated polymers (PVCi/PMATRIFE) microring resonators for low power tunable filters

In this paper we present optical and thermo-optical characterization results of integrated filters based on micro-ring resonators fabricated with a couple of polymers “PVCI/PMATRIFE”. Their high index contrast (Δn∼0.15 at the wavelength of 1550 nm) allows to make small size waveguides with cross sections of 1.5×1.5 μm². The study of the impact of different gaps on the extinction ratio and FWHM (full width at half maximum) of filters leads to a better design. First experiments of thermal tunability of the microring filter using a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) are also reported giving a 5 nm shift of the dropped wavelength for a temperature change of 40 K. The fabrication of gold electrodes on microrings is reported and the electrical power required for the tuning of the drop wavelength of 0.0055 nm/1 mW show that with an optimized electrode design the consumption will be low.