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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Polymer parallel optical waveguide with graded-index rectangular cores and its dispersion analysis.
Tomoya Kosugi1, Takaaki Ishigure
1Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan. ishigure@appi.keio.ac.jp
We developed a low-loss polymer optical waveguide with graded-index rectangular cores for high-speed optical interconnections. This novel design shows properties similar to circular core waveguides, enabling denser and faster data transmission.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
- Photonics
Background:
- High-speed and high-density optical interconnections are crucial for modern computing and communication systems.
- Graded-index (GI) optical waveguides, traditionally with circular cores, offer superior modal dispersion properties for signal integrity.
- The development of novel waveguide structures is needed to enhance bandwidth and reduce losses in optical interconnects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize a novel polymer parallel optical waveguide utilizing graded-index (GI) rectangular cores.
- To investigate the modal dispersion properties of these GI rectangular core waveguides.
- To assess the potential of this waveguide technology for high-speed and high-density optical interconnections.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of GI rectangular cores using the preform method.
- Experimental measurement and analysis of modal dispersion in the fabricated polymer waveguides.
- Comparison of performance characteristics with previously reported GI circular core waveguides.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of a low-loss, high-bandwidth polymer parallel optical waveguide with GI rectangular cores.
- Demonstration of a near-parabolic index profile in the rectangular cores, yielding properties comparable to GI circular cores.
- Detailed experimental results on modal dispersion characteristics of the GI rectangular core waveguides.
Conclusions:
- The developed GI rectangular core polymer waveguide exhibits excellent optical properties suitable for advanced optical interconnects.
- The rectangular core design offers a viable alternative to circular cores, potentially enabling higher density integration.
- Feasibility of using conventional photolithography and imprinting processes for mass production and integration onto printed circuit boards.

