Abstract

We experimentally investigate self-phase modulation (SPM) in silicon-on-insulator waveguides and present insight into the interplay between SPM and other nonlinear optical effects. Nonlinear interactions are studied in waveguides with cross-sectional widths in the range 260 nm ≤ w ≤ 4150 nm, allowing for detailed study of the influence of mode confinement on SPM. It is found that both the mode confinement and peak intensity in the silicon waveguide are key in defining the nonlinear interaction. Power-scaling trends in different spectral ranges are presented, demonstrating the potential for multiple wavelength nonlinear functionalities in a single device.