Low Non-Linear Loss Silicon Waveguides for Evanescent Couplers

An optical coupling configuration, comprising:

• a first waveguide having a core region and a first side region that extends laterally outward from a first side of the core region in a first direction that is perpendicular to a lengthwise centerline of the core region, wherein the first side region is formed as a meta-material;
• a second waveguide positioned within an evanescent optical coupling distance of the core region of the first waveguide, the second waveguide positioned on a second side of the core region of the first waveguide opposite from the first side of the core region of the first waveguide;
• a diode formed within the first side region of the first waveguide, the diode including an n-doped region and a p-doped region, wherein both the n-doped region and the p-doped region are physically separated from the core region of the first waveguide;
• and
• an electrically conductive structure in direct electrical connection with each of the n-doped region and the p-doped region so as to form an electrical short between the n-doped region and the p-doped region.

An optical coupling configuration, comprising:

• a first waveguide having a core region and a first side region that extends laterally outward from a first side of the core region in a first direction that is perpendicular to a lengthwise centerline of the core region, wherein a vertical thickness of the first side region is smaller than a vertical thickness of the core region;
• a second waveguide positioned within an evanescent optical coupling distance of the core region of the first waveguide, the second waveguide positioned on a second side of the core region of the first waveguide opposite from the first side of the core region of the first waveguide;
• and
• a doped region formed within the first side region of the first waveguide and through an optical coupling region between the core region of the first waveguide and the second waveguide, the doped region physically separated from the core region of the first waveguide, the doped region having a dopant concentration sufficiently high to remove free-carriers from within the first waveguide within the optical coupling region.