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Title: Methods and apparatus for vertical coupling from dielectric waveguides

Abstract

A frequency-chirped nano-antenna provides efficient sub-wavelength vertical emission from a dielectric waveguide. In one example, this nano-antenna includes a set of plasmonic dipoles on the opposite side of a SiYV.sub.4 waveguide from a ground plane. The resulting structure, which is less than half a wavelength long, emits a broadband beam (e.g., >300 nm) that can be coupled into an optical fiber. In some embodiments, a diffractive optical element with unevenly shaped regions of high- and low-index dielectric material collimates the broadband beam for higher coupling efficiency. In some cases, a negative lens element between the nano-antenna and the diffractive optical element accelerates the emitted beam's divergence (and improves coupling efficiency), allowing for more compact packaging. Like the diffractive optical element, the negative lens element includes unevenly shaped regions of high- and low-index dielectric material that can be designed to compensate for aberrations in the beam emitted by the nano-antenna.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1134215
Patent Number(s):
8755647
Application Number:
13/798,499
Assignee:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2013 Mar 13
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Yaacobi, Ami, and Cordova, Brad Gilbert. Methods and apparatus for vertical coupling from dielectric waveguides. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Yaacobi, Ami, & Cordova, Brad Gilbert. Methods and apparatus for vertical coupling from dielectric waveguides. United States.
Yaacobi, Ami, and Cordova, Brad Gilbert. Tue . "Methods and apparatus for vertical coupling from dielectric waveguides". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1134215.
@article{osti_1134215,
title = {Methods and apparatus for vertical coupling from dielectric waveguides},
author = {Yaacobi, Ami and Cordova, Brad Gilbert},
abstractNote = {A frequency-chirped nano-antenna provides efficient sub-wavelength vertical emission from a dielectric waveguide. In one example, this nano-antenna includes a set of plasmonic dipoles on the opposite side of a SiYV.sub.4 waveguide from a ground plane. The resulting structure, which is less than half a wavelength long, emits a broadband beam (e.g., >300 nm) that can be coupled into an optical fiber. In some embodiments, a diffractive optical element with unevenly shaped regions of high- and low-index dielectric material collimates the broadband beam for higher coupling efficiency. In some cases, a negative lens element between the nano-antenna and the diffractive optical element accelerates the emitted beam's divergence (and improves coupling efficiency), allowing for more compact packaging. Like the diffractive optical element, the negative lens element includes unevenly shaped regions of high- and low-index dielectric material that can be designed to compensate for aberrations in the beam emitted by the nano-antenna.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

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