Experimental confirmation of matched bends

Modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first-order (leaky) mode has been experimentally investigated in high-index-contrast integrated-optical bent waveguides. The matched bend condition has been experimentally confirmed on cascaded bends, and the effect of both matched and unmatched bends on Y branches has been investigated. Good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results for both monomode and multimode waveguides is achieved. It is demonstrated that, in bent waveguides, the modal conversion between the fundamental mode and the first (leaky) mode can be accurately controlled to avoid additional losses and transfer function impairments.