Previously proposed designs of integrated photonic devices have used the intuitive brute force approach or optimization methods that employ parameter search algorithms. However, a small parameter space and poor exploitation of the underlying physics have limited device performance, functionality, and footprint. In this paper, we propose efficient and compact 2D 1xN in-plane-incidence wavelength demultiplexers by using recently developed objective-first inverse design algorithm. Output ports in the presented 1xN photonic devices are located along the transverse to the input channel. Ultra-high device performance was achieved for the specific designs of 1x2, 1x4, and 1x6 wavelength (de)multiplexers with small footprints 2.80 um x 2.80 um, 2.80 um x 4.60 um, 2.80 um x 6.95 um, respectively. We used two approaches to binarization-level-set and binarization-cost-to obtain silicon wavelength demultiplexer considering fabrication constraints. For instance, the transmission efficiency of binarization-cost 1x2 demultiplexer was -0.30 dB for 1.31 um and -0.54 dB at 1.55 um while crosstalk at the operating wavelengths are negligibly small, i.e., -17.80 and -15.29 dB, respectively. Moreover, for the binarization-cost 1x4 demultiplexer, the transmission efficiency values were approximately -1.90 dB at 1.31, 1.39, 1.47, and 1.55 um as the crosstalk was approximately -13 dB. Furthermore, the objective-first algorithm was used to employ our demultiplexers as multiplexers which means the ports that were once used as inputs in demultiplexers are designed to be used as outputs. The inverse design approach that allows for the implementation of more than six output channels together with the proposed functionalities can help develop compact and manufacturable 2D 1xN couplers.
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