Compact and Fabrication-Tolerant Waveguide Bends Based on Quadratic Reflectors


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Yu S., Qiu X., Zuo H., Turduev M., Gu T., Hu J.

Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol.38, no.16, pp.4368-4373, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 38 Issue: 16
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1109/jlt.2020.2986576
  • Journal Name: Journal of Lightwave Technology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.4368-4373
  • Keywords: Optical waveguides, Optical losses, Optical device fabrication, Mirrors, Optical polarization, Optical reflection, Free-form reflector, integrated photonics, polymer waveguide, waveguide, waveguide bend, PHOTONIC INTEGRATED-CIRCUITS, POLYMER MICRORING RESONATORS, AIR INTERFACE BENDS, ELLIPTIC REFLECTORS, WRITTEN, LASER, TRENCHES, PHYSICS, GLASS
  • TED University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 1983-2012 IEEE.We propose and experimentally demonstrate a broadband, polarization-diverse compact bending design for low-index-contrast waveguides, where light is re-directed via total internal reflection (TIR) on an air-trench quadratic (elliptical or parabolic) reflector surface. Compared to prior work based on flat TIR mirrors, the quadratic reflector design contributes to minimized mode leakage and reduced optical losses, enabling high-density, scalable photonic architectures at the chip and board levels. Moreover, we develop a self-aligned fabrication process where the reflector and the waveguide segments are defined in a single lithography step, thereby circumventing the alignment sensitivity issue common to traditional air trench structures. Our simulations predict bending losses down to <0.14 dB per 90° and 180° bend at 850 nm wavelength, and we experimentally measure broadband losses of ∼0.3 dB per 90° and 180° bend for both TE and TM polarizations in structures fabricated using standard UV lithography.