SINGLE MODE FIBER OPTICS COUPLER

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSAL EFFORT ARE TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY AND TO REDUCE THE FABRICATION COSTS OF SINGLE MODE FIBEROPTICS COUPLERS BY: 1. DEVELOPING THICK, SINGLE MODE WAVEGUIDES WITH IDENTICAL CROSS SECTIONAL PROFILE MATCHING THAT OF SINGLE MODE FIBERS; AND 2. LOCATING THESE FIBERS TO WAVEGUIDES, MADE OF ELECTROOPTIC MATERIAL, USING PREALIGNED ETCHED "V" GROOVES IN A GAAS SUBSTRATE. OUR APPROACH IS BASED ON COUPLING THE INFORMATION FROM INPUT FIBERS TO SINGLE MODE WAVEGUIDES, ELECTRICALLY SWITCHING THE INFORMATION AMONG VARIOUS WAVEGUIDES AS DESIRED, AND EXITING THE INFORMATION FROM THE WAVEGUIDES TO OUTPUT FIBERS. REALIZATION OF THE THICK, SINGLE MODE WAVEGUIDES WILL PROVIDE A RELIABLE, LOW COST AND ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE FIBER TO WAVEGUIDE COUPLING, AND FORMS THE BASIS OF OUR INNOVATIVE IDEA. KEY TECHNICAL ISSUES IN A TYPICAL SINGLE MODE FIBER AND WAVEGUIDE ARISE DUE TO CROSS SECTIONAL MISMATCH BETWEEN THE FIBER (5.0 MICRON) AND THE WAVEGUIDE (IN 0.5 MICRON). IN PHASE I, WE PROPOSE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THICK, FIBER-PROFILE MATCHED WAVEGUIDES BY DESIGNING, FABRICATING AND TESTING OF THE WAVEGUIDES. IN PHASE II WE WILL DESIGN AND BUILD A COMPLETE DEVICE TO DEMONSTRATE LOW COST, HIGH PERFORMANCE, ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE SINGLE MODE FIBER OPTICS COUPLED DEVICES.