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All-polymer arrayed waveguide grating at 850 nm: design, fabrication, and characterization
Optics Letters
|September 9, 2016
Summary
A new all-polymer arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device operating at 850 nm was developed. This polymer waveguide device is suitable for integrated optical circuits and sensing applications, demonstrated by strain measurements.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
- Photonics
Background:
- Arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) are key components in optical signal processing.
- Existing AWG technologies often rely on inorganic materials, limiting integration flexibility.
- There is a need for cost-effective, integrable AWG devices for diverse applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel all-polymer arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device.
- To demonstrate the fabrication and functionality of polymer ridge waveguides for AWG applications.
- To explore the potential of the developed AWG for integrated optical circuits and sensing.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polymer ridge waveguides using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) foil.
- Utilized microscope projection photolithography for waveguide patterning.
- Demonstrated device functionality using a fiber Bragg grating sensor for strain measurements.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated an all-polymer AWG device operating around 850 nm.
- The device integrates polymer ridge waveguides on a flexible polymer substrate.
- Strain measurements were successfully performed, validating the device's sensing capability.
Conclusions:
- The developed all-polymer AWG is a promising component for integrated photonics.
- The device offers a pathway for low-cost, flexible optical integrated circuits.
- This technology is suitable for various sensing applications, including strain monitoring.
