Abstract

A laser-to-fiber coupler is described in which a thin-film waveguide is used to focus an incoming laser beam into the core of a cladded fiber. The latter is accurately aligned with respect to the waveguide by means of a V channel produced by a differential etching technique. Although over-all coupling efficiencies have not exceeded 10% so far, it is estimated that efficiencies of 50% or more should be feasible. This type of coupler may be useful in applications where compactness, ruggedness, and low cost are important.

© 1974 Optical Society of America

Single-Crystal Electrooptic Thin-Film Waveguide Modulators for Infrared Laser Systems

James F. Lotspeich
Appl. Opt. 13(11) 2529-2539 (1974)

Birefringent Coupler for Integrated Optics

Gerald B. Brandt
Appl. Opt. 13(6) 1359-1362 (1974)

Microlenses for Coupling Junction Lasers to Optical Fibers

L. G. Cohen and M. V. Schneider
Appl. Opt. 13(1) 89-94 (1974)

Sectioned thin-film grating*

William D. Westwood and John W. Y. Lit
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(12) 1631-1635 (1974)

Scaling Rules for Thin-Film Optical Waveguides

H. Kogelnik and V. Ramaswamy
Appl. Opt. 13(8) 1857-1862 (1974)