We propose and experimentally demonstrate a silicon based ultra-compact and low loss higher order mode bandpass filter (HMF), which was inversely designed by a direct-binary search topology optimization algorithm. The proposed HMF is a directional coupler with optimally positioned etched circular air holes in the coupling region which footprint is only 1.8 × 3 μm2. The experimental results show that the HMF has low insertion loss of <1 dB and low crosstalk of <−15 dB in the wavelength range of 1520 ∼ 1580 nm. It can be extended to selectively pass other higher order modes.
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