Single mode grating coupling between thin-film and fiber optical waveguides

Optical directional coupling by means of a periodic perturbation is described between a clad, single mode, cylindrical fiber, and a thin-film planar waveguide. Codirectional coupling was achieved to a clad fiber, with 0.4 percent efficiency; allowing for the geometric mismatch, this is effectively 30 percent coupling. The fiber guided mode is accessed by reducing the fiber diameter by heating and pulling. Mode phase matching is achieved with a periodic grating sputter etched into the film. Unwanted grating induced interactions are minimized by restricting the guide parameters or by modifying the coupling mechanism. A perturbation analysis is used to calculate coupling coefficients and the design procedure for an optimum structure is explained. Measurements on grating couplers are described and the film/fiber codirectional coupling is shown to be effected by the grating.