An optical all-pass filter realized by using self-compensation of loss

Abstract

Filters are key devices in optical systems and are usually applied to signal suppression or selection based on their amplitude frequency responses. Different from amplitude filtering, an all-pass filter (APF) is a unique type of filter that exhibits a uniform amplitude and variable phase in the frequency response. Traditionally, an APF is designed to be ideal and lossless, which is impossible in practice. Here we demonstrate a method of realizing an APF even when transmission loss exists, and a possible structure for realizing the lossy APF is proposed. The method indicates that a lossy APF can be realized by introducing self-compensation of loss to the structure of an ideal single-stage APF, and an APF based on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) foundry is fabricated and demonstrated. The method of self-compensation of loss can also be used to realize APFs in the electrical domain. We anticipate that our work will inspire realizations of more APF-related devices that once seemed impossible in practice.