APPARATUS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY FIBER-TO-CHIP COUPLING AND MODE-CONVERSION TO INTEGRATED PHOTONICS PLATFORM

摘要

An optical coupler (100) includes a waveguide structure (102). The waveguide structure (102) includes a waveguide layer (110) having a proximal end (112) and a distal end (114). The waveguide layer includes a first waveguide (116) that extends from the proximal end (112) along a first portion of the waveguide layer (110) and widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer toward the distal end (114). The waveguide layer (110) further includes one or more additional waveguides (126) that extend from the proximal end (112) along the first portion of the waveguide layer. Each of the one or more additional waveguides (126) narrow along the second portion of the waveguide layer to separate distal tips (127) at the distal end (114). The waveguide structure (102) is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber (140) at the proximal end (112) and transition the mode to only the first waveguide (116) toward the distal end (114).