Robust, Low Loss Approach for Fiber to Waveguide Coupling

This NASA Phase I SBIR effort proposes to establish the feasibility of significantly improving coupling at fiber to waveguide interfaces for the manufacture of low loss fiber coupled components being developed for several NASA lidar based initiatives, including LaRC's HSRL program. Efficient and robust coupling of single mode fibers to optical waveguides is essential to the performance and manufacturability of a variety of low loss, fiber coupled non-linear optical components such as amplitude modulators, wavelength converters and integrated waveguide-based photonic devices. The goal of the Phase II effort will be the delivery of HSRL-specific waveguide components to LaRC that incorporate the improvements developed in the SBIR effort. Once optimized, the proposed approach will allow for a robust, low loss method for fiber to waveguide coupling that will be well-suited for air-borne and space based applications, thus advancing NASA's requirement for state-of-the-art lidar technology with emphasis on compactness, efficiency, and performance.