Numerical Performance Analysis of Novel-Generation Materials for Mach–Zehnder Interferometer Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55981/jet.837Keywords:
mach–zehnder interferometer, beam propagation method, new-generation materials, numerical performance analysis, refractive index.Abstract
Advances in optical technology have driven the need for new-generation materials that are more efficient in Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structures, particularly for high-precision optical sensors and communication applications. This study aims to evaluate the optical performance of ten material configurations, namely As₂S₃, a-GST, BTO (TE), BTO (TM), c-Si, LNOI (TE), LNOI (TM), PMMA, Si₃N₄, and SU-8, in an MZI configuration using a numerical simulation approach based on the Beam Propagation Method (BPM), the Crank–Nicolson scheme, and the Padé approximation method. Simulations were conducted using MATLAB software to analyze the transverse Ey field, refractive index profiles, and optical transmission efficiency. The results indicate that materials such as BTO (TE/TM), LNOI (TE/TM), and As₂S₃ exhibit superior performance with Ey loss values ≤ 0.01, indicating excellent optical field confinement and high transmission efficiency. Meanwhile, polymer materials, such as PMMA and SU-8, exhibit poor performance with significant loss values, making them unsuitable for active waveguide functions. The novelty of this study lies in the systematic comparison of ten novel-generation material configurations under a uniform MZI simulation framework, enabling the direct evaluation of material-dependent optical confinement, Ey field loss, and transmission efficiency. These findings provide practical guidance for selecting suitable materials for next-generation MZI-based optical sensors, modulators, and integrated photonic devices.
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