Polarization-independent grating coupler for micrometric silicon rib waveguides

Grating couplers are a promising approach to implement efficient fiber-chip coupling. However, their strong polarization dependence makes dual-polarization operation challenging. In this Letter we propose, for the first time, a polarization-independent grating coupler for thick rib silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides. Coupling efficiency is optimized by designing the grating pitch and duty cycle, without varying the bottom oxide thickness, which significantly simplifies practical implementation. Directivity of the grating coupler is enhanced by a high reflectivity layer under the bottom oxide after the selective removal of the Si substrate. Dual-polarization coupling efficiency of -2.8 dB is shown.     

Stratified waveguide grating coupler for normal fiber incidence

We propose a new stratified waveguide grating coupler (SWGC) to couple light from a fiber at normal incidence into a planar waveguide. SWGCs are designed to operate in the strong coupling regime without intermediate optics between the fiber and the waveguide. Two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation in conjunction with microgenetic algorithm optimization shows that approximately 72% coupling efficiency is possible for fiber (core size of 8.3 microm and delta=0.36%) to slab waveguide (1.2-microm core and delta=3.1%) coupling. We show that the phase-matching and Bragg conditions are simultaneously satisfied through the fundamental leaky mode.     

Compact efficient broadband grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides

We have designed a high-efficiency broadband grating coupler for coupling between silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides and optical fibers. The grating is only 13 microm long and 12 microm wide, and the size of the grooves is optimized numerically. For TE polarization the coupling loss to single-mode fiber is below 1 dB over a 35-nm wavelength range when using SOI with a two-pair bottom reflector. The tolerances to fabrication errors are also calculated.     

对称结构光纤光栅耦合器及其应用

光纤光栅耦合器(FGC)具有光纤光栅良好的波长选择特性和光纤耦合器的多端口特点，易于实现全光纤的光波分插复用。光纤光栅耦合器主要有4种结构：基于M Z干涉仪的分离型、基于100％耦合器的非对称型、基于0耦合器的非对称型和基于100％耦合器的对称型。着重介绍对称结构光纤光栅耦合器的结构、工作原理和研究现状。提出了测试方案，并探讨了这种器件在大规模波分复用光纤传感器阵列中的应用。     

A high efficiency thin grating coupler for integrated optics

The use of a special geometrical configuration allowing high efficiency coupling to thin film optical waveguides using thin grating couplers is described. Experimental coupling efficiencies of 70% are reported.     

Focusing subwavelength grating coupler for mid-infrared suspended membrane waveguide

A mid-infrared (mid-IR)-focusing subwavelength grating (SWG) coupler and suspended membrane waveguide (SMW) on a silicon-on-insulator wafer are studied. For a transverse-electric mode uniform SWG, finite-difference time-domain simulation predicts 44.2% coupling efficiency with 1 dB bandwidth of about 220 nm and backreflection of 0.78% at 2.75 μm. Then the uniform SWG is curved to a focusing SWG using a phase-matching formula. The SMWs are analyzed by the finite element method and fabricated. An Er3+-Pr3+ co-doped mid-IR fiber laser is used for device characterization. The fabricated mid-IR SWG coupler has 24.7% coupling efficiency.     

Circular grating coupler for creating focused azimuthally and radially polarized beams

We show a planar optical circuit design that takes light from an input waveguide and creates a focused azimuthally or radially polarized beam emanating from the surface of the substrate. It is implemented in silicon-on-insulator waveguides and does not require any external components to focus the beam. The focal spot size can be subwavelength and is potentially useful for lithography, imaging, optical data storage, optical trapping, optical excitation of molecules, or coupling to optical fibers.     

Polarization-independent silicon photonic grating coupler for large spatial light spots

We design and demonstrate a one-dimensional grating coupler with a low polarization-dependent loss(PDL)for large spatial light spots.Based on current fabrication conditions,we first utilize genetic algorithms to find the optimal grating structure including the distributions of duty and periods,making the effective refractive index of transverse electric mode the same as that of transverse magnetic mode.The designed grating coupler is fabricated on the common silicon-on-insulator platform and the PDL is measured to be within 0.41 d B covering the C-band.     

Q parameter estimation using numerical simulations for linear and nonlinear transmission systems

We compare the Q parameter obtained from scalar, semi-analytical and full vector models for realistic transmission systems. One set of systems is operated in the linear regime, while another is using solitons at high peak power. We report in detail on the different results obtained for the same system using different models. Polarisation mode dispersion is also taken into account and a novel method to average Q parameters over several independent simulation runs is described.     

A comparative numerical study of soliton switching in a nonlinear directional coupler with saturating nonlinearity

A detailed numerical study of soliton switching in a nonlinear directional coupler with saturating nonlinearity is carried out. All commonly used models have been studied. Relevant physical characteristics for switching have been determined, compared and discussed.     

UV-written long-period waveguide grating coupler for broadband add/drop multiplexing

We demonstrate a UV-written polymer long-period waveguide grating (LPWG) coupler, which offers a bandwidth of ∼20 nm, a maximum coupling efficiency of ∼80% and ∼60% for the TE and TM polarizations, respectively, and a wavelength-tuning range over the (S + C + L)-band (∼140 nm) with a temperature control of ∼25 °C. The LPWG coupler has the potential to be developed into a practical broadband add/drop multiplexer for coarse wavelength-division-multiplexing applications.     

The grating coupler: Comparison of theoretical and experimental results

Previous theoretical treatments of the grating coupler have been extended to include a realistic case (lossy, two-layer waveguide) which we have studied experimentally. Both microscopic structural parameters (thicknesses, complex indices, modulation depth, etc.) and macroscopic coupling parameters (coupling efficiencies, lengths, etc.) have been measured. Better agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results is obtained for the coupling efficiencies than for the coupling lengths and we explain why this is to be expected.     

Apodized fully-etched surface grating coupler using subwavelength structure for standard silicon-on-insulator waveguide

We design and demonstrate the fully-etched apodized grating couplers based on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform using subwavelength structure for both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes operation. The subwavelength grating (SWG) is used to engineer the refractive index using second-order effective medium theory (EMT). The whole designing procedure is given in details, especially a feasible and programmable method is developed to precisely manipulate the coupling strength of each grating cycle. A perfect Gaussian output beam can be synthesized for the TE mode operation, achieving a field overlap up to 98.3% with the Gaussian fiber mode. The simulated peak coupling losses are ?4.63 and ?2.99 dB for the TE mode and the TM mode, respectively, which are comparable with conventional shallowly etched grating couplers, realizing a fabrication simplification without performance penalty. The measured peak coupling loss is ?7.6 dB for the TE mode coupler with a 1 dB bandwidth of 45 nm, and ?6.1 dB for the TM mode coupler with a 1 dB bandwidth of 34 nm.     

Polarization-independent on-axis light coupler for surface plasmon resonance using a concentric chirped grating

A novel on-axis one-element polarization-independent light in- and out-coupling mechanism for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed. The system utilizes an integrated high-NA concentric chirped grating to both focus the incident light on the metallic film and collimate the reflected beam onto a CCD array to extract the SPR signal. With NA up to 1.47, a broad sensing dynamic range from n=1 to 1.35 can be achieved. An analytical model is implemented to demonstrate the dependency of the radial location of the resonances on the detecting substance and its sensitivity to the change of the refractive index. The model shows a trend similar to rigorous ray-tracing calculations.     

High efficiency and broad bandwidth grating coupler between nanophotonic waveguide and fibre

A high efficiency and broad bandwidth grating coupler between a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) nanophotonic waveguide and fibre is designed and fabricated. Coupling efficiencies of 46\% and 25\% at a wavelength of 1.55~μ m are achieved by simulation and experiment, respectively. An optical 3~dB bandwidth of 45~nm from 1530~nm to 1575~nm is also obtained in experiment. Numerical calculation shows that a tolerance to fabrication error of 10~nm in etch depth is achievable. The measurement results indicate that the alignment error of ±2~μ m results in less than 1~dB additional coupling loss.     

Chirped and curved grating coupler focusing both outgoing beam and guided wave

A new type of a grating coupler is proposed which couples out diverging or converging guided wave into stigmatically focused outgoing beam or vice versa. Theoretical analysis based on the holographic approach is given in some details. Experiments on photoresist gratings support the theory and show their prospective application as beam forming couplers for guided-wave optics.     

High efficiency grating coupler between silicon-on-insulator waveguides and perfectly vertical optical fibers

A high-efficiency waveguide-to-fiber grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides was designed. Perfectly vertical fiber coupling is achieved by using an asymmetric grating structure to suppress the second-order Bragg reflection from the grating. The ability to use a perfectly vertical positioned optical fiber simplifies the packaging of the photonic integrated circuit. A coupling efficiency of 80% at a wavelength of 1.55 microm is obtained.