New Configuration of Ring Resonator in Photonic Crystal Based on Self-Collimation

We propose a novel ring resonator configuration in a channelless photonic crystal. The proposed ring resonator utilizes the self-collimation effect and the bending and splitting mechanisms of line defects to route the propagation of light, instead of conventional indexed-guided waveguides or photonic crystal band gap waveguides. The finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) is used to investigate the characteristics of the ring resonator. The new design exhibits an ON--OFF contrast with an extinction ratio of more than 12dB, and has an ultra-compact footprint of 3.3×3.3μm² when it operates at the optical communication wavelength λ=1.55μm. The design presented may find applications in the areas including ultra-compact optical switch and wavelength filer in integrated optical circuits.