Modulation instability in silicon optical waveguide considering linear loss

Taking into account the linear loss of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide, modulation instability (MI) induced by combined effects of self-phase modulation and waveguide dispersions is investigated. The impacts of various parameters to gain spectra of MI are analyzed theoretically, and direct numerical simulation of nonlinear Schroedinger equation is performed as well. Results show that strong MI takes place even in the existence of low light power. The linear loss of waveguide obviously impacts gain spectra of MI, even within ultra-short propagation distance. The peak gain frequency and bandwidth of gain spectra decrease to 41.683% and 41.6879% of their maximum at propagation distance z = 5 mm, respectively.