Add/drop filter using in-plane slanted gratings in azo polymers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Photonics

Background:

• Azo-functionalized polymers offer unique photoresponsive properties.
• Integrated optical devices are crucial for miniaturizing photonic circuits.
• Slanted gratings can manipulate light propagation in novel ways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate in-plane slanted gratings on azo-polymer films.
• To demonstrate their functionality as integrated reflectors and add/drop filters.
• To achieve efficient optical signal manipulation within the film plane.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a fast, direct-writing fabrication technique.
• Employed azo-functionalized polymeric films.
• Tuned grating resonance for specific optical functions.

Main Results:

• Achieved an attenuation of 14.8 dB at 1560.2 nm.
• Obtained a Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of 6.47 nm.
• Demonstrated add/drop filtering functionality, with a 1548 nm signal added from a different direction.

Conclusions:

• In-plane slanted gratings on azo-polymer films are viable integrated optical components.
• The fabricated gratings can serve as efficient reflectors and add/drop filters.
• This method offers a promising route for on-chip photonic device fabrication.