Reducing the thermal dependence of silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating using inorganic-organic hybrid materials

This study demonstrates the application of a temperature-independent arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) using a simple hybrid waveguide structure composed of silica core/inorganic-organic hybrid material overcladding layer. The thermooptic effect of the hybrid materials varies over a wide range of temperature and provides athermal characteristics in an AWG. The temperature dependence of the AWG was reduced through the precision control of the thermooptic coefficient of the hybrid materials (Deltalambda =similar to 3 pm/degreesC).