Polarization-insensitive silicon-phototonic optical receiver

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing a program module that is configured to be executed by the processor;
• and
• an optical receiver, wherein the optical receiver includes:
• a polarizing splitting grating coupler (PSGC) having an input port, a first output port and a second output port, wherein the input port is configured to receive an input optical signal having two orthogonal polarization components and multiple wavelengths, and wherein the first output port is configured to provide a first optical signal having a transverse-electric (TE) mode corresponding to one of the two polarization components and the second output port is configured to provide a second optical signal having the TE mode corresponding to the other of the two polarization components;
• a first optical waveguide optically coupled to the first output port;
• a second optical waveguide optically coupled to the second output port;
• a wavelength-selective filter, optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, having output ports configured to provide output optical signals having the wavelengths in the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein a given output port is configured to provide a given output optical signal having a given wavelength in one of the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein the wavelength-selective filter includes:
• input ports configured to couple to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide;
• a propagation region configured to convey the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• an optical device configured to image and diffract the first optical signal and the second optical signal using a reflective geometry;
• and
• the outputs ports, optically coupled to diffraction orders of the optical device, configured to provide the output optical signals having the wavelengths in the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• and
• optical detectors, optically coupled to the wavelength-selective filter, configured to provide electrical signals corresponding to the output optical signals, wherein a given optical detector is optically coupled to at least the given output port and is configured to provide a given electrical signal corresponding to at least the given output optical signal.

A method for providing output optical signals, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving an input optical signal having two orthogonal polarization components and multiple wavelengths;
• using a polarizing splitting grating coupler (PSGC), splitting the two orthogonal polarization components into a first optical signal having a transverse-electric (TE) mode and a second optical signal having the TE mode, and coupling the first optical signal to a first optical waveguide and the second optical signal to a second optical waveguide;
• using a wavelength-selective filter, providing output optical signals having the wavelengths in the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein a given output optical signal has a given wavelength in one of the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein the wavelength-selective filter includes:
• input ports configured to couple to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide;
• a propagation region configured to convey the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• an optical device configured to image and diffract the first optical signal and the second optical signal using a reflective geometry;
• and
• the outputs ports, optically coupled to diffraction orders of the optical device, configured to provide the output optical signals having the wavelengths in the first optical signal and the second optical signal;
• and
• using optical detectors, outputting electrical signals corresponding to the output optical signals, wherein a given electrical signal corresponds to at least the given output optical signal.