Tunable on-chip mode converter enabled by inverse design

Abstract Tunable mode converter is a key component of channel switching and routing for optical communication system by adopting mode-division multiplexing. Traditional hardly implements high-order conversion dynamic tunability simultaneously. In this study, we design tunable filled with liquid crystal, which can convert fundamental into multiple modes (TE 0 , TE 1 2 ) good performance low intrinsic loss. For multiple-objective task, propose an inverse framework based on the adjoint method. To experimentally prove our design, air or water demultiplexer are fabricated to implement routing. The experimental results agree well simulation reveal crosstalk only around −7 dB. With its efficiency, proposed flow be powerful tool multifunction device design.