Efficient zone plate array accessor for optoelectronic integrated circuits: design and fabrication.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Micro-optics fabrication
• Laser beam manipulation

Background:

• Efficient coupling of laser diode light into multiple optical fibers is crucial for various applications.
• Existing beam splitting technologies often face limitations in terms of efficiency and simultaneous focusing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel spatially divided beam splitter.
• To achieve simultaneous focusing and separation of laser diode output into multiple fibers.
• To investigate the focusing characteristics and diffraction efficiency of the designed beam splitter.

Main Methods:

• Design of a spatially divided beam splitter utilizing a cylindrical lens and a phase-type linear zone plate array.
• Prediction of focusing characteristics using skew ray tracing.
• Fabrication of a three-section linear zone plate array via holographic mask patterning and deep UV printing.

Main Results:

• The fabricated linear zone plate array exhibited a linewidth variation from 1.1 to 2.05 micrometers.
• Diffraction efficiency reached 60% under oblique incident conditions near the Bragg angle.
• Simultaneous focusing and separation of laser output were successfully achieved by integrating the zone plate array with a cylindrical lens.

Conclusions:

• The developed spatially divided beam splitter effectively couples laser diode light into multiple fibers.
• The device demonstrates high diffraction efficiency and capability for simultaneous focusing and separation.
• This technology holds potential for advancements in fiber optic communication and sensing systems.