title: Compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on self-collimation of light in a silicon photonic crystal.
abstract: We demonstrate a compact silicon photonic crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometer operating in the self-collimation regime. By tailoring the photonic band structure such as to produce self-collimated beams, it is possible to design beam splitters and mirrors and combine these to a 20 x 20 microm(2) format. With transmission spectroscopy we find a pronounced unidirectional optical output, the output ratio being as high as 25 at the self-collimation wavelength. Furthermore, the self-collimated beams and the unidirectionality are clearly observed in real space using near-field and far-field optical microscopy. Interpretation of the optical data is strongly supported by different types of simulations.
authors.affiliation: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands. m.h.nguyen@tudelft.nl
authors.forename: Hoang M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: van der Heijden
authors.forename: E W J M
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: van der Drift
authors.forename: H W M
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Salemink
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogge
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caro