Straight Directional Couplers via Scan-Engineered Index Control

TL;DR

This paper introduces a femtosecond laser fabrication method for creating compact, high-density straight directional couplers and interferometers in glass, with precisely controlled coupling via scan-engineered index modulation.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a novel femtosecond laser technique for fabricating straight directional couplers with controlled coupling strength and high-density integration in glass.

Findings

Achieved a 50:50 directional coupler with a footprint under 40 um x 15 um x 6 mm.

Fabricated a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with unbalanced arms.

Demonstrated a waveguide array with 15 um spacing for dense photonic integration.

Abstract

A novel design for straight directional waveguide couplers and interferometers is demonstrated in glass, fabricated using femtosecond laser direct writing and operating at telecommunication wavelengths (~1550 nm). The devices consisted of parallel waveguides with a spacing of 15 um, where the coupling strength was controlled by scan-engineered refractive index modulation along the length of the waveguide. Using this approach, we realized a 50:50 directional coupler formed by two identical waveguides with a footprint of < 40 um x 15 um x 6 mm, as well as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with unbalanced arms. A waveguide array with 15 um spacing was also demonstrated, highlighting the potential for compact, high-density, and three-dimensional photonic integration.