Integrated optical waveguide with lateral gaps increasing depth to the mode match on a fiber

摘要

The present invention relates to a waveguide taper. The waveguide taper has a first end and a second end for being coupled with a fiber. The core has an overall width that progressively increases from the waveguide end toward the fiber end such that the width of the fiber end of the taper corresponds to the diameter of the core of the fiber. Side- gaps are disposed in the sides of the core and extend into the core but not across the entire width of the core. The depth of the side-gaps progressively increases from the waveguide end to the fiber end of the taper. In one embodiment, the side-gaps may be aperiodically and/or randomly disposed along the length of the taper and the side-gaps can be disposed at different angles to a direction of light propagation along a length of the core.