Tapered waveguide coupler and spectrometer

摘要

A method of forming a waveguide, the method comprising the steps of: forming a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; and delaminating the multilayer stack between at least two of the light guiding layers to form a waveguide between the light guiding layers; in which the patterned region has converging sides and the waveguide is tapered, the multilayer stack having increased transmissivity at a region corresponding to a selected thickness of the waveguide. A tapered waveguide is also disclosed, comprising: a multilayer stack of light guiding layers; the multilayer stack defining a channel between at least a first waveguiding layer and a second waveguiding layer; the channel having a diminishing thickness in a first direction; and at least one of the first waveguiding layer and the second waveguiding layer having a region of increased transmissivity adjacent a selected thickness of the core. Methods for the use of the tapered waveguide as an optical coupler or spectrometer are also disclosed. Methods for enhancing the optical resolution of the taper waveguide when operated as a spectrometer are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A tapered leaky waveguide, comprising:
a first waveguiding layer and a second waveguiding layer having a core between the first waveguiding layer and the second waveguiding layer, each of the first waveguiding layer and the second waveguiding layer comprising an omni-directional reflector for light propagating in at least one leaky mode within the core; the core having a diminishing thickness in a first direction and having a selected thickness at a position at which light propagating in the tapered leaky waveguide forms a transverse resonant mode corresponding to a mode cutoff of a desired wavelength of light propagating within the core; and a light collection element disposed to receive light that, in operation of the tapered leaky waveguide, propagates perpendicular to the core at the position of the selected thickness.