Fabrication and experimental characterization of precise high-efficiency 2D multi-mode fiber array coupler

Abstract

In this paper a method for fabricating precise high-efficiency 2D multi-mode fiber array coupler is proposed, and the coupler’s performance is experimentally characterized. By improving the design of 2D fiber array coupler, the average concentricity error of the fiber array is down to 0.9 μm. After coupling with microlens array, the average coupling efficiency of the coupler is up to 57.51%. It is demonstrated that the precise microhole position and fiber cladding diameter, supported by microlens array, can provide an excellent coupling performance. This 2D fiber array coupler can be widely applied in LIDAR, optical communication systems and microwave photonics systems, provide the functions of high-speed image capture, interconnection and optical signals time-space transformation.