Non-Uniform Programmable Photonic Waveguide Meshes

[EN] Multipurpose photonic processors have emerged as a powerful platform for implementing diverse optical functions on a chip via software-driven reconfiguration. At the core of these processors, photonic waveguide meshes enable flexible light routing and manipulation. However, recirculating meshes...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Catalá-Lahoz, Cristina|||0000-0002-9425-9077, Capmany Francoy, José|||0000-0002-6460-4167
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repositorio:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:riunet______::e4f143660692e2e2012dbada3b0c77e0
Acceso en línea:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/234913
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Non-uniform meshes
Programmable photonics
Silicon photonics Vernier effect
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] Multipurpose photonic processors have emerged as a powerful platform for implementing diverse optical functions on a chip via software-driven reconfiguration. At the core of these processors, photonic waveguide meshes enable flexible light routing and manipulation. However, recirculating meshes are limited by the fixed dimensions of their cells, constraining their spectral and temporal resolution. Here, we introduce the concept of non-uniform programmable waveguide meshes by incorporating defect cells into a uniform hexagonal architecture. These defect cells preserve an external hexagonal perimeter while embedding smaller internal sub-cells that modify the spectral response via the Vernier effect. By coupling cells with different optical path lengths, we achieve a tenfold increase in free spectral range (FSR) up to 133 GHz and reduce sampling times from 75 to 7.5 ps, surpassing the capabilities of conventional programmable meshes. Beyond broadband signal processing, it paves the way for advanced applications in topological photonics, quantum information processing, and high-speed optical computing.