High-speed wavelength division multiplexing silicon photonics receiver chip based on silicon arrayed waveguide grating

Abstract Wavelength division multiplexing technology has been pivotal in addressing the demand for high-capacity optical communication with silicon photonics providing a promising platform. This work presents a 16-channel wavelength division multiplexing silicon photonics receiver chip composed of an arrayed waveguide grating and Ge-on-Si photodetectors. Integrated inductors are introduced to enhance the high-speed performance of photodetectors, enabling data rates up to 112 Gbps with high responsivity and low dark current. The operating wavelength range of the arrayed wavelength grating is adjusted according to the response of the Ge-on-Si photodetector. The optical insertion loss, cross talk and central wavelength of the array waveguide grating are 2.1 to 3.7 dB, −12 to −15 dB, and 1538 nm, respectively. The proposed receiver chip offers a solution to meet the challenges of modern data transmission requirements.