Elimination of cross talk in waveguide intersections

We present general criteria for crossing perpendicular waveguides with nearly 100% throughput and 0% cross talk. Our design applies even when the waveguide width is of the order of the wavelength. The theoretical basis for this phenomenon is explained in terms of symmetry considerations and resonant tunneling and is then illustrated with numerical simulations for both a two-dimensional photonic crystal and a conventional high-index-contrast waveguide crossing. Cross-talk reduction by up to 8 orders of magnitude is achieved relative to unmodified crossings. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.