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Thin grating couplers for integrated optics: an experimental and theoretical study
Applied Optics
|February 16, 2010
Summary
This study details grating couplers for launching light into optical waveguides. Experimental and theoretical results show good agreement, offering design guidelines for these periodic structures.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Periodic structures, known as grating couplers, are essential for coupling light into thin-film optical waveguides.
- Understanding their theoretical and practical aspects is crucial for efficient optical device design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive account of the theoretical and practical aspects of grating couplers.
- To investigate the performance of grating couplers fabricated in photoresist on glass waveguides.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis using a Green's function formulation to calculate radiated fields from guided waves incident on grating couplers.
- Experimental fabrication of grating couplers in photoresist on 7059 glass thin-film waveguides.
- Measurement of coupling length and power distribution as a function of grating period.
Main Results:
- Good agreement was observed between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements.
- Coupling characteristics were analyzed for waveguides supporting single and multiple modes.
- Fabrication methods and design guidelines for grating couplers are presented.
Conclusions:
- The study validates the theoretical model for grating couplers and demonstrates their practical efficacy.
- The findings provide valuable insights for designing efficient grating couplers for optical waveguide applications.
