An optical coupler (100, 200, 300), comprising: a waveguide structure (102, 202) comprising: a first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) having a proximal end (112, 212, 330) and a distal end (114, 214, 332), the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) including: a first waveguide (116, 216, 324) that extends from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along a first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein the first waveguide widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) that extend from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along the first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein each of the one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) narrow along the second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) to separate distal tips (127, 227) at the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and wherein the waveguide structure (102, 202) is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber at the proximal end (112, 212, 330), wherein the waveguide structure (102, 202) is configured to transition the mode to only the first waveguide (116, 216, 324) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332); characterized in that the one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) diverge from the first waveguide (116, 216, 324) along the second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310). a waveguide structure (102, 202) comprising: a first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) having a proximal end (112, 212, 330) and a distal end (114, 214, 332), the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) including: a first waveguide (116, 216, 324) that extends from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along a first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein the first waveguide widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) that extend from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along the first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein each of the one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) narrow along the second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) to separate distal tips (127, 227) at the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and a first waveguide (116, 216, 324) that extends from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along a first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein the first waveguide widens along a second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) that extend from the proximal end (112, 212, 330) along the first portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310), wherein each of the one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) narrow along the second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) to separate distal tips (127, 227) at the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310); and wherein the waveguide structure (102, 202) is configured to match an integrated photonics mode to a fiber mode supported by an optical fiber at the proximal end (112, 212, 330), wherein the waveguide structure (102, 202) is configured to transition the mode to only the first waveguide (116, 216, 324) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332); characterized in that the one or more additional waveguides (126, 226, 312, 314, 316, 322, 326) diverge from the first waveguide (116, 216, 324) along the second portion of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310) toward the distal end (114, 214, 332) of the first waveguide layer (110, 210, 310).