Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth
Providing efficient access from optical fibers to on-chip photonic systems is a key challenge for integrated optics. In general, current solutions allow either narrowband out-of-plane-coupling to a large number of devices or broadband edge-coupling to a limited number of devices. Here we present a h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIP Publishing LLC
2019-01-01
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| Series: | APL Photonics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5064401 |
| _version_ | 1829508427188011008 |
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| author | H. Gehring M. Blaicher W. Hartmann P. Varytis K. Busch M. Wegener W. H. P. Pernice |
| author_facet | H. Gehring M. Blaicher W. Hartmann P. Varytis K. Busch M. Wegener W. H. P. Pernice |
| author_sort | H. Gehring |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Providing efficient access from optical fibers to on-chip photonic systems is a key challenge for integrated optics. In general, current solutions allow either narrowband out-of-plane-coupling to a large number of devices or broadband edge-coupling to a limited number of devices. Here we present a hybrid approach using 3D direct laser writing, merging the advantages of both concepts and enabling broadband and low-loss coupling to waveguide devices from the top. In the telecom wavelength regime, we demonstrate a coupling loss of less than −1.8 dB between 1480 nm and 1620 nm. In the wavelength range between 730 nm and 1700 nm, we achieve coupling efficiency well above −8 dB which is sufficient for a range of broadband applications spanning more than an octave. The 3D couplers allow relaxed mechanical alignment with respect to optical fibers, with −1 dB alignment tolerance of about 5 µm in x- and y-directions and −1 dB alignment tolerance in the z-direction of 34 µm. Using automatized alignment, many such couplers can be connected to integrated photonic circuits for rapid prototyping and hybrid integration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:26:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2add0ee6c6cb472c8d295bac1b9e8100 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-0967 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:26:43Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Photonics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2add0ee6c6cb472c8d295bac1b9e81002022-12-21T22:33:20ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672019-01-0141010801010801-710.1063/1.5064401004901APPLow-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidthH. Gehring0M. Blaicher1W. Hartmann2P. Varytis3K. Busch4M. Wegener5W. H. P. Pernice6Institute of Physics, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, GermanyInstitute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, GermanyHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Physik, AG Theoretische Optik & Photonik, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, GermanyHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Physik, AG Theoretische Optik & Photonik, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76021 Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, 48149 Münster, GermanyProviding efficient access from optical fibers to on-chip photonic systems is a key challenge for integrated optics. In general, current solutions allow either narrowband out-of-plane-coupling to a large number of devices or broadband edge-coupling to a limited number of devices. Here we present a hybrid approach using 3D direct laser writing, merging the advantages of both concepts and enabling broadband and low-loss coupling to waveguide devices from the top. In the telecom wavelength regime, we demonstrate a coupling loss of less than −1.8 dB between 1480 nm and 1620 nm. In the wavelength range between 730 nm and 1700 nm, we achieve coupling efficiency well above −8 dB which is sufficient for a range of broadband applications spanning more than an octave. The 3D couplers allow relaxed mechanical alignment with respect to optical fibers, with −1 dB alignment tolerance of about 5 µm in x- and y-directions and −1 dB alignment tolerance in the z-direction of 34 µm. Using automatized alignment, many such couplers can be connected to integrated photonic circuits for rapid prototyping and hybrid integration.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5064401 |
| spellingShingle | H. Gehring M. Blaicher W. Hartmann P. Varytis K. Busch M. Wegener W. H. P. Pernice Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth APL Photonics |
| title | Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| title_full | Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| title_fullStr | Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| title_short | Low-loss fiber-to-chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| title_sort | low loss fiber to chip couplers with ultrawide optical bandwidth |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5064401 |
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