UV-written Integrated Optical 1×N Splitters

The first demonstration of UV-written, silica-on-silicon integrated optical 1×N power splitters with up to 32 outputs ports is presented. The fabricated components exhibit 450 nm bandwidth, low excess loss and good channel uniformity. ©2006 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (250.5300) Photonic integrated circuits, (230.1360) Beam splitters, (130.3120) Integrated optics devices, (060.2340) Fiber optics components, (160.5320) Photorefractive materials, (230.7390) Waveguides, planar, (260.7190) Ultraviolet, (350.4600) Optical engineering. References and Links 1. M. Svalgaard, C. V. Poulsen, A. Bjarklev, O. Poulsen, “ UV-writing of buried single-mode channel waveguides in Ge-doped silica films,”, Electron. Lett. 30, 1401–1402 (1994). 2. M. Svalgaard, K. Færch, L. U. Andersen, “Variable Optical Attenuator Fabricated by Direct UV Writing,” J. Lightwave Technol. 21−9, 2097-2103 (2003). 3. C. Peucheret, Y. Geng, M. Svalgaard, B. Zsigri, H. R. Sørensen, N. Chi, H. -J. Deyerl, M. Kristensen, P. Jeppesen, “Direct UV written Michelson Interferometer for RZ Signal Generation Using Phase-toIntensity Modulation Conversion,” IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett. 17, 1674-1676 (2005). 4. M. Olivero, M. Svalgaard, “Direct UV-written broadband directional planar waveguide couplers,” Opt. Express 13, 8390-8399 (2005). 5. Standards ITU-G 983.5 and ITU-G 983.6, 2002. Available: http://www.itu. int/rec/recommendation.asp? type=products&lang=e&parent=T-REC-G 6. G.D. Maxwell, B.J. Ainslie, “Demonstration of a directly written directional coupler using UV induced photosensitivity in a planar silica waveguide,” Electron. Lett. 31, 1694-1695 (1995). 7. D. Zauner, K. Kulstad, J. Rathje, M. Svalgaard, “Directly UV written silica−on−silicon planar waveguides with low insertion loss,” Electron. Lett. 34, 1582-1584 (1998). 8. P.J. Lemaire, R. M. Atkins, V. Mizrahi, W.A. Reed, “High pressure H2 loading as a technique for achieving ultrahigh UV photosensitivity and thermal sensitivity in GeO2 doped optical fibres,” Electron. Lett. 29, 1191-1193 (1993). 9. M. Svalgaard, “Effect of D2 outdiffusion on direct UV writing of waveguides,” Electron. Lett. 35, 1840-1841 (1999). 10. Renishaw plc. , New Mills, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8JR, United Kingdom, tutorial: http://www.renishaw. com/UserFiles/acrobat/UKEnglish/GEN-NEW-0117.pdf. 11. M. Svalgaard, A. Harpøth, M. Andersen, “The role of local heating in the formation process of UV written optical waveguides,” Opt. Express 13, 7823-7831 (2005). 12. R.A. Betts, F. Lui, T.W. Whitbread, “Non destructive two-dimensional refractive index profiling of integrated optical waveguides by an interferometric method,” Appl. Opt. 30, 4384-4389 (1991). 13. T. Erdogan, V. Mizrahi, P. J. Lemarie, D. Monroe, “Decay of ultra−violet−light induced Bragg gratings,” J. Appl. Phys. 76, 73-80 (1994). 14. M. Svalgaard, “Direct writing of planar waveguide power splitters and directional couplers using a focused ultraviolet laser beam,” Electron. Lett. 33, 1694-1695 (1997). 15. R. Syms, J. Cozens, “The slab waveguide-tapers,” in Optical Guided Waves and Devices, (McGraw-Hill International Ltd., 1992), pp. 19-22. 16. K. Færch, M. Svalgaard, “Symmetrical waveguide device fabricated by direct UV writing,” IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett. 14, 173-175 (2002). #9482 $15.00 USD Received 15 November 2005; revised 19 December 2005; accepted 19 December 2005 (C) 2006 OSA 9 January 2006 / Vol. 14, No. 1 / OPTICS EXPRESS 162 17. M Olivero, M. Svalgaard, “UV written 1×8 optical splitters,” in Proceedings of OSA Topical Meeting on Bragg Gratings, Poling and Photosensitivity, B.J. Eggleton, ed., (Technical Digest Series, Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 2005), 37-38.