%0 Journal Article
%T Thermal models for silicon-on-insulator-based optical circuits
%A Konrad Biwojno
%A Slawomir Sujecki
%A Ana Vukovic
%A Trevor M. Benson
%J Optica Applicata
%D 2004
%I 
%X Silicon has many advantages as a material for planar photonics but it does not possess a linear electro-optic effect. Whilst free carrier injection has been used to produce optical switches based on silicon on insulator (SOI) rib waveguides, the thermo-optic effect provides an attractive alternative way of modulating the refractive index in these structures. In this paper a fast analytical thermal solver is developed for SOI-based thermo-optic switches. It is shown that lateral heat leakage limits the temperature rise that can be achieved for a given thermal input power. The analytical model is then extended to allow investigation of the effect of thermal isolation trenches. These are found to improve performance by a factor of three. Finally, the effect of these trenches on the modes supported by the waveguide is briefly discussed.
%K thermo-optic switch
%K silicon-on-insulator
%K rib waveguide
%U http://www.if.pwr.wroc.pl/~optappl/pdf/2004/no2/optappl_3402p149.pdf