Efficient out-of-plane microphotonic fiber-to-chip coupler designs

Abstract

Due to the tremendous increase of data rates in optical communication, and as a result the forthcoming reliance on photonic circuits for all-optical switching, routing and signal processing, efficient coupling of light between a nanophotonic waveguide and a fiber has become a critical and interesting issue to investigate. The objective of this thesis is to explore new strategies for efficient fiber-to-chip coupler design and to come up with design rules based on these strategies and a competent device design. Some of the previous research in the area of coupler design is reviewed, and a novel out-of-plane fiber-to-chip coupler design that is based on phase-canceling gratings is proposed. The principle of operation of this grating is explained and may be applied to other grating designs.