Low-loss, wide-angle Y splitter at approximately ~1.6- mum wavelengths built with a two-dimensional photonic crystal

We report a successful experimental realization of a photonic-crystal Y splitter operating at lambda~1.6 mum . Our device has a large splitting angle of 120 degrees and a miniature size of ~3 mumx3 mum . Furthermore, the Y-splitter loss is measured to be 0.5-1 dB at lambda=1640-1680 nm, making the Y splitter promising for integrated photonic-circuit applications. These unique properties are attributed to the new guiding principle made possible by the photonic bandgap.