Juan Fernández Vicente

This thesis is focused on the modelling, design and experimental demonstration for the first time of Reconfigurable Reflective Arrayed Waveguide Grating (R-RAWG) device. In order to build this device, that can be employed in spectrometry, a silicon nitride platform termed CNM-VLC has been chosen since this material allows to operate in broad range of wavelengths. This platform has the necessary elements, but some limitations because the operation of this device had a low performance. Therefore, a methodology has been developed and validated, which has allowed to obtain better splitters. Also an inverted taper has been designed, which has considerably improved the coupling of light to the chip. This has been possible thanks to an exhaustive analysis of existing options in the literature, that has allowed choosing the best option to make a reconfigurable mirror on the platform without changing or adding new manufacturing steps. Reconfigurable mirrors have been demonstrated by using feedback splitters. Furthermore, codes have been developed to predict the behaviour of the actual device. With all the work done, a R-RAWG has been designed by using certain considerations so that it can operate over a broad wavelength range and the phase actuators are not in danger of being damaged. A code has also been developed for the modelling of the R-RAWG, which allows manufacturing imperfections to be considered, thanks to this, a method or algorithm called DPASTOR has been developed. DPASTOR resembles machine learning to optimise the response by just using the optical output power. Finally, a PCB and an assembly with the chip interconnected to it have been made and designed. Moreover, a measurement method has been developed, which has made it possible to have a stable response and to demonstrate a multitude of optical filter responses with the same device.