3D printed waveguides based on photonic crystal fiber designs for complex fiber-end photonic devices

Abstract

Optical waveguide segments based on geometrically unbound photonic crystal fiber (PCF) designs could be exploited as building blocks to realize miniaturized complex devices that implement advanced photonic operations. Here, we show how to fabricate optical waveguide segments with PCF designs by direct high-resolution 3D printing and how the combination of these segments can realize complex photonic devices. We demonstrate the unprecedented precision and flexibility of our method by fabricating the first-ever fiber polarizing beam splitter based on PCFs. The device was directly printed in one step on the end-face of a standard single-mode fiber and was 210 µm long, offering broadband operation in the optical telecommunications C-band. Our approach harnesses the potential of high-resolution 3D printing and of PCF designs paving the way for the development of novel miniaturized complex photonic systems, which will positively impact and advance optical telecommunications, sensor technology, and biomedical devices.

Laser 3D Printing of Inorganic Free-Form Micro-Optics

“…However, until now, it was quite limited for direct processing of transparent inorganics of ceramic and crystalline phases [8]. On the other hand, the current advances of the technique are driven vastly by the rapid progress for implementation in manufacturing of various micro-optical and nano-photonic monolith elements as well as fully assembled complex 3D components [9][10][11][12][13]. Thus, here we demonstrate the combination of ultrafast laser 3D nanolithography and thermal posttreatment for opening a route for production of free-form inorganic structures-specifically free-form micro-optics.…”

A New Approach of Hetero-Cladding Using Ferroelectric BaTiO3 and SiO2 for Design of Compact Si Photonic Tunable Directional Coupler

“…Other than consuming much space, large size of photonic devices also increases energy consumption and cost of the PICs. Thus, there have been tremendous efforts by researchers across the globe to address this challenge of reducing size of photonic devices and components to exploit the full benefit of photonics towards design of low footprint and energy efficient PICs [10][11][12].…”

Laser 3D Printing of Inorganic Free-Form Micro-Optics

“…Yet, until now, it was quite limited for direct processing of transparent inorganics of ceramic and crystalline phases [8]. On the other hand the current advances of the technique are driven vastly by the rapid progress for implementation in manufacturing of various micro-optical and nano-photonic monolith elements as well as fully assembled complex 3D components [9][10][11][12][13]. Thus, here we demonstrate the combination of ultrafast laser 3D nanolithography and thermal post-treatment for opening a route for production of free-form inorganic structures -specifically free-form micro-optics.…”