Optical Splitters Based on Self-Imaging Effect in Multi-Mode Waveguide Made by Ion Exchange in Glass

Design and modeling of single mode optical multi-mode interference structures with graded refractive index is reported. Several samples of planar optical channel waveguides were obtained by Ag+Na+ and K+Na+ one step thermal ion exchange process in molten salt on GIL49 glass substrate and new special optical glass for ion exchange technology. Waveguide properties were measured by optical mode spectroscopy. Obtained data were used for further design and modeling of single mode channel waveguide and subsequently for the design of 1 to 3 multimode interference power splitter in order to improve simulation accuracy. Designs were developed by utilizing finite difference beam propagation method

Planar Large Core Polymer Optical 1x2 and 1x4 Splitters Connectable to Plastic Optical Fiber

We report about new approach to design and fabricate multimode 1 x 2 and 1 x 4 Y optical planar power splitter suitable for low-cost short distance optical network. The splitters were designed by beam propagation method using BeamPROP™ software. The dimensions of the splitters were optimized for connecting standard plastic optical fibre with 1 mm diameter. New Norland Optical Adhesives 1625 glues were used as optical waveguide layers and the design structures were completed by CNC engraving on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate. The best parameters that were achieved with 1x2 splitter were insertion loss around 4.1dB at 650 nm and the coupling ratio 52:48; the best one of the 1x4 splitters had at 650 nm insertion loss around 17.6 dB

Design of the Novel Wavelength Triplexer Using Multiple Polymer Microring Resonators

We report about new design of wavelength triplexer using multiple polymer optical microring resonators. Triplexer consists of two downstream wavelength channels operating at 1490 ± 10 nm, 1555 ± 10 nm and one upstream wavelength channel operating at 1310 ± 50 nm. The parallel coupled double ring resonator was used for separation of the optical signal band at 1555 nm and filtered out signal bands 1310 nm and 1490 nm. The serially coupled triple optical microring resonator was used for separation of the optical signal band at 1490 nm and filtered out signal bands 1310 nm and 1555 nm. The design was done by using FullWAVETM software by the finite-difference time-domain method. Simulation showed that optical losses for band at 1555 nm were -3 dB and crosstalk between signal bands 1555 nm and 1490 nm was 24 dB. Calculated optical losses for channel 1490 nm were less than -2.5 dB and signal bands at 1555 nm was filtered out with less than 18 dB loss. The bands at 1310 nm were fully filtered out from both downstream wavelength channels operating at bands 1490 nm and 1555 nm

Design and Modeling of Symmetric Three Branch Polymer Planar Optical Power Dividers

Two types of polymer-based three-branch symmetric planar optical power dividers (splitters) were designed, multimode interference (MMI) splitter and triangular shape-spacing splitter. By means of modeling the real structures were simulated as made of Epoxy Novolak Resin on silicon substrate, with silica buffer layer and polymethylmethacrylate as protection cover layer. The design of polymer waveguide structure was done by Beam Propagation Method. After comparing properties of both types of the splitters we have demonstrated that our new polymer based triangular shaped splitter can work simultaneously in broader spectrum, the only condition would be that the waveguides are single-mode guiding. It practically means that, what concerns communication wavelengths, it can on principle simultaneously operate at two mainly used wavelengths, 1310 and 1550 nm

Flexible Polymer Planar Optical Waveguides

We report about design, fabrication and properties of flexible polymer optical planar waveguides made of Epoxy Novolak Resin as planar waveguides deposited on various foil substrates. The design of the presented planar waveguides was realized on the bases of modified dispersion equation and was schemed for 633 nm, 850 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelength. Propagation optical loss measurements were done by the fibre probe technique at wavelegnth 633 nm (He-Ne laser) and samples have optical losses lower than 2 dB/cm. Unlike the up-to-now presented structures our constructin is fully flexible what makes it possible to be used in innovative photonics structures

Large Core Three Branch Polymer Power Splitters

We report about three branch large core polymer power splitters optimized for connecting standard plastic optical fibers. A new point of the design is insertion of a rectangle-shaped spacing between the input and the central part of the splitter, which will ensure more even distribution of the output optical power. The splitters were designed by beam propagation method using BeamPROP software. Acrylic-based polymers were used as optical waveguides being poured into the Y-grooves realized by computer numerical controlled engraving on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate. Measurement of the optical insertion losses proved that the insertion optical loss could be lowered to 2.1 dB at 650 nm and optical power coupling ratio could reach 31.8% : 37.3% : 30.9%

Design of Polymer Wavelength Splitter 1310 nm/1550 nm Based on Multimode Interferences

We report about design of 1x2 1310/1550 nm optical wavelength division multiplexer based on polymer waveguides. The polymer splitter was designed by using RSoft software based on beam propagation method. Epoxy novolak resin polymer was used as core waveguides layer, silicon substrate with silica layer was used as buffer layer and polymethylmethacrylate was used as protection cover layer. The simulation shows that the output energy for the fundamental mode is 67.1 % for 1310 nm and 67.8 % for 1550 nm wavelength

Design, Fabrication and Properties of Rib Poly(methylmethacrylimide) Optical Waveguides

We report about design, fabrication and properties of the polymer optical waveguides deposited on silica-on-silicon substrate. The design of the waveguides is based on a concept that geometric dimensions of the single mode polymer waveguide are determined by geometrical parameters of the silica layer. The design of the waveguides was schemed for 650 nm, 850 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelength. The design of the presented planar waveguides was realized on the bases of modified dispersion equation while the ridge waveguides design was proposed following the Fischbeck concept. Both designs were refined applying RSoft software using beam propagation method. Proposed shapes of the waveguides were etched by standard photolithography process into the silica layers and polymer waveguide layers were subsequently deposited into the treated substrate by spin coating. Poly(methylmethacrylimide) was used as the waveguide core material and polymethylmethacrylate was used as a cover protection layer. Propagation optical loss measurements were done by using the cut-back method and the best samples had optical losses lower than 0.6 dB/cm at 650 nm, 1310 nm and 1550 nm

Properties of Large Core Polymer Optical Bend Waveguides

We report about properties of large core plastic planar optical bend waveguides. The dimensions of the waveguides were to be compatible with the commonly used plastic optical fiber with diameter 750 µm and the bend radii of the waveguides varied from 30 to 1 mm. The waveguides were made by engraving of a U-groove by using CNC machining into poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate; the waveguide core layers were made of Norland Optical Adhesive UV photopolymer. We experimentally confirmed that fabricated bends may have the total bend losses A for radii 30 mm 4.1 dB/cm at 850 nm, 4.8 dB/cm at 650 nm and 5.63 dB/cm at 532 nm. These bend waveguides are viable for short reach visible and infrared optical communication with easy and low cost installations

Optical Properties of Erbium and Erbium/Ytterbium Doped Polymethylmethacrylate

In this paper we report on the fabrication and properties of Er3 and Er3/Yb3 doped Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) layers. The reported layers were fabricated by spin coating on silicon or on quartz substrates. Infrared spectroscopy was used for an investigation of O-H stretching vibration. Measurement were made of the transmission spectra in the wavelength ranges from 350 to 700 nm for the Er3 doped samples and from 900 to 1040 nm for the Yb3 doped samples. The refractive indices were investigated in the spectral range from 300 to 1100 nm using optical ellipsometry and the photoluminescence spectra were measured in the infrared region