The intrinsic multimode nature of a directional coupler responsible for its functionality leads to intermodal dispersion. In this work, the authors experimentally demonstrate at microwave frequencies that the energy components of a pulse coupled to each of the supermodes of the photonic crystal directional coupler travel at different velocities. An intermodal dispersion of 5 ns/m is measured, which is in good agreement with the theoretical results. This value is more than two orders of magnitude higher than that reported from conventional two-core fiber couplers.

1.
E.
Yablonovitch
,
Phys. Rev. Lett.
58
,
2059
(
1987
).
2.
M.
Lonçar
,
D.
Nedeljkoviç
,
T.
Doll
,
J.
Vuckovic
,
A.
Scherer
, and
T. P.
Pearsall
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
77
,
1937
(
2000
).
3.
A.
Martínez
,
F.
Cuesta
,
A.
Griol
,
D.
Mira
,
J.
García
,
P.
Sanchis
,
R.
Llorente
, and
J.
Martí
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
83
,
3033
(
2003
).
4.
S.
Noda
,
A.
Chutinan
, and
M.
Imada
,
Nature (London)
407
,
608
(
2000
).
5.
M.
Soljačić
,
S. G.
Johnson
,
S.
Fan
,
M.
Ibanescu
,
E.
Ippen
, and
J. D.
Joannopoulos
,
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B
19
,
2052
(
2002
).
6.
F.
Cuesta-Soto
,
A.
Martínez
,
J.
García
,
F.
Ramos
,
P.
Sanchis
,
J.
Blasco
, and
J.
Martí
,
Opt. Express
12
,
161
(
2004
) (A.).
7.
M. D.
Settle
,
R. J. P.
Engelen
,
M.
Salib
,
A.
Michaeli
,
L.
Kuipers
, and
T. F.
Krauss
,
Opt. Express
15
,
219
(
2007
).
8.
A.
Martinez
,
F.
Cuesta
, and
J.
Marti
,
IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett.
15
,
405
(
2003
).
9.
K. S.
Chiang
,
Opt. Lett.
20
,
997
(
1995
).
10.
M.
Bayindir
,
B.
Temelkuran
, and
E.
Ozbay
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
77
,
3902
(
2000
).
11.
S. Y.
Lin
,
E.
Chow
,
V.
Hietala
,
P. R.
Villeneuve
, and
J. D.
Joannopoulos
,
Science
282
,
274
(
1998
).
12.
F.
Cuesta
,
A.
Griol
,
A.
Martinez
, and
J.
Marti
,
Electron. Lett.
39
,
455
(
2003
).
13.
J.
García
,
A.
Martínez
,
F.
Cuesta-Soto
,
P.
Sanchís
,
J.
Blasco
, and
J.
Martí
,
Opt. Quantum Electron.
37
,
199
(
2005
).
14.
R. J. P.
Engelen
,
Y.
Sugimoto
,
Y.
Watanabe
,
J. P.
Korterik
,
N.
Ikeda
,
N. F.
van Hulst
,
K.
Asakawa
, and
L.
Kuipers
,
Opt. Express
14
,
1658
(
2006
).
15.
R. J. P.
Engelen
,
Y.
Sugimoto
,
H.
Gersen
,
N.
Ikeda
,
K.
Asakawa
, and
L.
Kuipers
,
Nat. Phys.
3
,
401
(
2007
).
16.
C.
Martijn de Sterke
,
L. C.
Botten
,
A. A.
Asatryan
,
T. P.
White
, and
R. C.
McPhedran
,
Opt. Lett.
29
,
1384
(
2004
).
17.
F.
Cuesta-Soto
,
B.
García-Banos
, and
J.
Martí
,
Opt. Lett.
30
,
3156
(
2005
).
You do not currently have access to this content.