Large reduction of singlemode-fibre coupling loss in 1.5% Δ planar lightwave circuits using spot-size converters

Reduction of singlemode fibre coupling loss in 1.5% Δ planar lightwave circuits from 1.8 to 0.2 dB/point is achieved using simple vertically and laterally tapered spot-size converters. These spot-size converters were used to realise an arrayed-waveguide grating with a very low insertion loss of 0.7 dB.