Silicon photonic waveguide structures and devices: From fundamentals to implementations in spectroscopy and biological sensing

In this chapter we discuss recent advances in silicon photonics research at the National Research Council Canada. We review our work on first implementations of subwavelength grating structures in silicon waveguides, including efficient fiber-chip coupling structures, and anti-reflective and high-reflectivity structures formed at the SOI waveguide facets. Silicon planar waveguide spectrometer chips are introduced, namely a high-resolution arrayed waveguide grating spectrometer and the first planar waveguide Fourier-transform spectrometer with a largely increased light gathering capability. Finally, we review our work in developing silicon-wire biological sensors with excellent surface sensitivity, ultracompact sensor designs, and new waveguide geometries that allow these sensors to be densely arrayed for compatibility with conventional microarray spotters. These sensors provide a practical route to the development of label-free micro-array biochips for multi-analyte monitoring. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.