Optical Fiber to Waveguide Coupling Technique

摘要

A technique for permanently coupling optical fibers edge-on to thin-filmwaveguides was investigated and its feasibility demonstrated. It offers the fine micropositioner adjustment via a needle vacuum chuck for maximum optical coupling, offers robust mechanical support to the fibers from etched Si V-grooves, separates the support and fine adjustment cementing steps to minimize curing and thermal stresses, relaxes the requirements on fiber circularity and concentricity, is compatible with waveguide devices, and is suitable for close-spaced arrays of fibers. (rh)