Title :
Compact mode expanders using resonant coupling between a tapered active region and an underlying coupling waveguide
Author :
Vusirikala, V. ; Saini, S.S. ; Bartolo, R.E. ; Dagenais, M. ; Stone, D.R.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Maryland Univ., College Park, MD, USA
Abstract :
A novel technique for enhanced laser-fiber coupling, based on resonant power coupling between a tapered active waveguide and an underlying coupling waveguide, is presented. Spot-sizes are transformed from 2.0×1.1 μm in the active region to 6.0×3.1 μm in the coupling waveguide, over a length of 200 μm, with a mode transformation loss of only 0.36 dB. Butt-coupling efficiencies of 55% (2.6 dB loss) are estimated to standard cleaved single-mode fibers at 1.55 μm. The proposed device requires a single epitaxial growth and conventional processing techniques, making it amenable for low-cost manufacturing.
Keywords :
integrated circuit packaging; integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; optical fibre couplers; optical losses; quantum well lasers; waveguide lasers; 0.36 dB; 1.1 mum; 1.55 mum; 2.0 mum; 2.6 dB; 200 mum; 3.1 mum; 55 percent; 6.0 mum; MQW active region; butt-coupling efficiencies; compact mode expanders; conventional processing techniques; enhanced laser-fiber coupling; low-cost manufacturing; mode transformation loss; resonant coupling; resonant power coupling; single epitaxial growth; spot-sizes; standard cleaved single-mode fibers; tapered active region; underlying coupling waveguide; Coupling circuits; Fiber lasers; Laser modes; Optical coupling; Optical fiber devices; Resonance; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor waveguides; Waveguide lasers; Waveguide theory;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
