Integrated flat-top reflection filters operating near bound states in the continuum

Abstract: We propose and theoretically and numerically investigate narrowband integrated filters consisting of identical resonant dielectric ridges on the surface of a single-mode dielectric slab waveguide. The proposed composite structures operate near a bound state in the continuum (BIC) and enable spectral filtering of transverse-electric-polarized guided modes propagating in the waveguide. We demonstrate that by proper choice of the distances between the ridges, flat-top reflectance profiles with steep slopes and virtually no sidelobes can be obtained using just a few ridges. In particular, the structure consisting of two ridges can optically implement the second-order Butterworth filter, whereas at a larger number of ridges, excellent approximations to higher-order Butterworth filters can be achieved. Owing to the BIC supported by the ridges constituting the composite structure, the flat-top reflection band can be made arbitrarily narrow without increasing the structure size. In addition to the filtering properties, the investigated structures support another type of BICs - Fabry-P\'erot BICs arising when the distances between the adjacent ridges meet the Fabry-P\'erot resonance condition. In the vicinity of the Fabry-P\'erot BICs, an effect similar to the electromagnetically induced transparency is observed, namely, sharp transmittance peaks against the background of a wide transmittance dip.