Title: The role of index contrast in dielectric optical waveguides

Authors: A. Melloni, R. Costa, G. Cusmai, F. Morichetti

Addresses: Dipartimento di Elettronica e Informazione, Politecnico di Milano, Via Ponzio, 34/5 20129 Milano, Italy. ' Corecom, Consortium for Researches in Optical Processing and Switching, Via G. Colombo, 81 20129 Milano, Italy. ' Corecom, Consortium for Researches in Optical Processing and Switching, Via G. Colombo, 81 20129 Milano, Italy. ' Corecom, Consortium for Researches in Optical Processing and Switching, Via G. Colombo, 81 20129 Milano, Italy

Abstract: The refractive index contrast plays a fundamental role in determining the characteristics of an optical dielectric waveguide and a higher index contrast permits to move towards larger scales of integration and to access new devices and functionalities. In this paper, the impact of the index contrast on the characteristics of dielectric waveguides such as single mode regime, losses, fibre to waveguide coupling efficiency, minimum bending radius, mode hybridness, birefringence, polarisation effects, repeatability and stability, scale of integration, realisable circuits, technological constraints and available materials are investigated. Both classical step index waveguides and multilayer structures that engineers the contrast are considered.

Keywords: optical waveguides; refractive index contrast; integrated optics; optical devices; optical materials; dielectric waveguides; optics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2009.024998

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2009 Vol.34 No.4, pp.421 - 437

Published online: 06 May 2009 *

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