Apparatus for increasing the cross section of optical waves

摘要

An apparatus for converting an optical wave having a relatively smaller cross section into an optical wave having a relatively larger cross section which may be manufactured in a monolithically integrated fashion in a simple way. In this apparatus, a wave-guiding, rib-shaped taper having an end for coupling the optical wave with a small cross section into the taper is fashioned on a rib of a rib waveguide which guides the optical wave. An optical wave having a larger cross section is fashioned thereon in a longitudinal direction of the rib. The infeed end of the taper and the taper itself has a smaller breadth in comparison to the breadth of the rib of the rib waveguide. Proceeding from this end, the taper broadens and decreasingly tapers in thickness in the longitudinal direction of the rib waveguide.