New Optical Waveguide Design Based on Wavefront Matching Method

We have studied the wavefront matching (WFM) method, which synthesizes optimum waveguide patterns from the desired characteristics, and demonstrated its feasibility. In this paper, we expand this method to create optimum waveguide shapes with low-loss and low-wavelength dependence in waveguide lenses, Y-branches, and waveguide crossings. We describe the design procedures for each waveguide element and report the experimental results as proof of concept. The measured results agree well with our design requirements, and the waveguide patterns designed by the WFM method exhibit better characteristics than the reference patterns.