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Title: Reduced coupling loss using a tapered-rib adiabatic-following fiber coupler

Journal Article · · IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/68.508735· OSTI ID:282407

The authors present the design and experimental demonstration of a tapered-rib adiabatic-following fiber coupler (TRAF-FiC). This device is an adaptation of a Shani-Henry mode converter fabricated in (Al)GaAs and designed to increase the coupling efficiency of conventional optical fibers to tightly-confined semiconductor rib waveguide devices. This approach offers the potential of significantly reducing fiber butt coupling losses from the typical values of 7 to 10 dB to values of <1 dB. This long-standing packaging problem is one of the major impediments to the widespread acceptance of semiconductor-based optoelectronics. Moreover, the design can be implemented with minimal increase in fabrication complexity since it uses only a straightforward modification to epitaxial growth, and one additional lithography and etching step.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
282407
Journal Information:
IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 8, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English