Low-loss waveguide design for full visible spectrum on-chip photonic devices

Extending the operational wavelength range of integrated optical devices to cover the entire visible spectrum holds significant importance, as it can enhance the detection accuracy and applicability of miniaturized spectrometers, broaden the bandwidth of visible light communication, and enable biosensors to simultaneously detect multiple biomolecules in complex samples. As the fundamental building block of integrated optical devices, waveguides have not yet been thoroughly investigated for full visible spectrum operation. This work presents a waveguide design supporting the full visible spectrum (435−760 nm). Numerical simulations were employed to analyze the transmission characteristics of various waveguide structures, revealing that single-mode propagation cannot be achieved across the entire visible spectrum. Under multimode propagation conditions, key parameters such as propagation loss and mode distribution were systematically examined to determine the optimal waveguide dimensions, bending radii, and waveguide spacings for low-loss transmission: For slab waveguides, a thickness ≥1 μm ensures polarization insensitivity. For strip waveguides with a thickness of 1 μm, a width ≥2 μm significantly reduces scattering loss induced by sidewall roughness. For strip waveguides with a width of 1 μm and thickness of 2 μm, radiation loss becomes negligible when the bending radius ≥10 μm and waveguide spacing ≥0.4 μm, while maintaining effective isolation from adjacent waveguides. Additionally, the impact of fabrication tolerances on waveguide performance was evaluated. In contrast to previous studies primarily focusing on narrow spectral bands within the visible range, the proposed design enables full visible spectrum transmission in a single waveguide, thereby facilitating bandwidth expansion and performance enhancement for on-chip full visible spectrum devices.