Beam and Waveguide Couplers

Abstract

The basic component of integrated optics is the thin-film dielectric waveguide. As discussed in Chapter 2, this waveguide exhibits properties that make it very similar to metallic guides which have been utilized in carrying energy at microwave frequencies. However, two major differences exist between metallic microwave guides and dielectric optical waveguides. First, typical guide dimensions at optical frequencies are of the order of 1 μm as compared to the typical dimension of 1 cm at microwave frequencies, which is 104 larger. Secondly, microwave guides are usually closed and all of the energy flows inside the guide. In contrast, optical dielectric guides are open so that, although most of the energy is within a thin film, the field nevertheless extends also into the exterior space.KeywordsSurface WaveOutput CouplerCoupling EfficiencyBeam CouplerWaveguide CouplerThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.