Full length articleExperimental demonstration of a broadband two-mode multi/demultiplexer based on asymmetric Y-junctions

•A mode (de)multiplexer using asymmetric Y-junctions is experimentally demonstrated.•The demultiplexer crosstalk is lower than −9.1 dB in a wavelength range of 106 nm.•Open and clear eye-diagrams at 10 Gbit/s are obtained.

A broadband two-mode multi/demultiplexer using asymmetric Y-junctions is designed and experimentally demonstrated on a silicon-on-insulator platform for on-chip mode-division multiplexing applications. Within a bandwidth from 1513 to 1619 nm, the fabricated device, which consists of a two-mode multiplexer, a multimode straight waveguide, and a two-mode demultiplexer, exhibits demultiplexing crosstalk of less than −9.1 dB. The demultiplexing crosstalk as low as −42.1 dB, lower than −12.8 dB over the C band can be obtained. The measured insertion loss varies from 0.40 to 0.56 dB at a wavelength of 1550 nm. A transmission experiment of 10 Gbit/s electrical signals carried on TE0 and TE1 modes is successfully achieved with open and clear eye diagrams.