Practical method of waveguide-to-fiber connection: direct preparation of waveguide endface by cutting machine and...

We propose and demonstrate new practical methods of waveguide end fabrication and fiber attachment for Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguides. We fabricated waveguide endfaces with a cutting machine, which simplifies the manufacture of waveguide devices and provides a low excess loss of 0.3 dB or less. Our proposed fiber attachment method features fibers that protrude slightly from the reinforcement. It provides easy alignment, low excess loss (<0.1 dB), high strength (>600 gf), and high thermal stability (-10 to 60 degrees C). We also developed an easy way to reduce the backreflection from the joint without using anti-reflection coating. Instead, a tapered hemispherical end fiber and an angled waveguide endface are used. Backreflection is easily reduced to less than -30.