An apparatus, comprising: a first waveguide having an input end, an output end and a tapered section; a second waveguide having an input end, an output end and a tapered section; wherein the tapered sections of each of the first and second waveguides are disposed adjacent to each other such that each of the tapered sections of the first and second waveguides have a side face, the side faces of each of the first and second waveguides being disposed in facing relation to one another and define a gap therebetween, wherein the gap has a width of about 500 nm or less, the tapered sections defining a mode evolution region that distributes optical energy received at the input end of the first waveguide between the first and second waveguides such that a first portion of the optical energy is output at the output end of the first waveguide 102, 104) and a second portion of the optical energy is output at the output end of the second waveguide , wherein: the first waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area; and the second waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is smaller than the second cross sectional area. a first waveguide having an input end, an output end and a tapered section; a second waveguide having an input end, an output end and a tapered section; wherein the tapered sections of each of the first and second waveguides are disposed adjacent to each other such that each of the tapered sections of the first and second waveguides have a side face, the side faces of each of the first and second waveguides being disposed in facing relation to one another and define a gap therebetween, wherein the gap has a width of about 500 nm or less, the tapered sections defining a mode evolution region that distributes optical energy received at the input end of the first waveguide between the first and second waveguides such that a first portion of the optical energy is output at the output end of the first waveguide 102, 104) and a second portion of the optical energy is output at the output end of the second waveguide , wherein: the first waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area; and the second waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is smaller than the second cross sectional area. the first waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area; and the second waveguide tapers from a first cross sectional area at an input side of the tapered section to a second cross sectional area at an output side of the tapered section, and the first cross sectional area is smaller than the second cross sectional area. <EOS>