Design of quantum-inspired photonic filters and wdm multiplexers using tunneling-based optimization frameworks

Abstract

In this research paper, a quantum-inspired design and optimization technique for extremely efficient photonic wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs) and bandpass filters (BPFs) developed for advanced integrated photonic communication platforms is presented. Tunneling-inspired resonance and evanescent coupling effects in nanoscale photonic structures that are essential to advanced photonic circuits are not sufficiently captured by classical electromagnetic models when the device dimensions approach closer to the nanoscale. In order to overcome this constraint, we propose a tunneling-based model using quantum-inspired analogies that provides for precise control of resonance, phase coherence, and energy transfer by interpreting evanescent field coupling as a quantum-inspired tunneling analogy over potential barriers. An enhanced iterative random grouping with adaptive differential evolution (IRRG-ADE) algorithm, designed to tackle large-scale, non-separable photonic design domains with quantum-inspired constraints, is implemented to tackle the resulting multi-objective optimization problem. The numerical simulations demonstrate significant advantages over classical electromagnetic systems, with an insertion loss of 0.45 dB, crosstalk suppression of 29.1 dB, and a passband flatness of 0.96. The proposed structure provides a scalable approach for creating spectrally stable, CMOS-compatible wavelength-selective components for next-generation advanced photonic communication and integrated photonic platforms by combining quantum tunneling analogies via computational photonic optimization. The proposed framework is quantum-inspired in the sense that it utilizes mathematical analogies between optical wave propagation and quantum tunneling phenomena for photonic structure optimization. The presented devices remain classical passive dielectric photonic structures and do not directly manipulate quantum states, entanglement, or single-photon dynamics.