Direct laser written polymer waveguides with out of plane couplers for optical chips

Abstract

Optical technologies call for waveguide networks featuring high integration densities, low losses, and simple operation. Here, we present polymer waveguides fabricated from a negative tone photoresist via two-photon-lithography in direct laser writing, and show a detailed parameter study of their performance. Specifically, we produce waveguides featuring bend radii down to 40 µm, insertion losses of the order of 10 dB, and loss coefficients smaller than 0.81 dB mm −1 , facilitating high integration densities in writing fields of 300 µm × 300 µm. A novel three-dimensional coupler design allows for coupling control as well as direct observation of outputs in a single field of view through a microscope objective. Finally, we present beam-splitting devices to construct larger optical networks, and we show that the waveguide material is compatible with the integration of quantum emitters.

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

“…In addition to the very high twist rates achievable, a finely controlled transverse and/or axial modulation of the twist rate, as is easily achieved by 3D printing, could lead to new optical effects [48]. Finally, our 3D printing approach to create optical waveguides that exploit the unique properties of PCF designs could easily integrate/complement other recently proposed methods that share the same printing technology, for creating and coupling optical waveguides and photonic chips [25,[49][50][51]. We anticipate our method will unleash the creativity of PCF designers and enable a new generation of miniaturized on-fiber photonic structures for enhancement of the fiber end-face, positively impacting and advancing optical telecommunications, sensor technology, and biomedical devices.…”

Coherent remote control of quantum emitters embedded in polymer waveguides

“…Since the resist film is solid, the nanodiamonds are not mobile and the resist is exposed to laser lithography from the side of the substrate in order to produce waveguides on the substrate, including nano diamonnds. These waveguides written have been characterized in detail elsewhere 18 . In short, they feature bend radii down to 40 µm, insertion losses (i.e.…”

Polymer-Based Device Fabrication and Applications Using Direct Laser Writing Technology

“…In addition, another commonly used optical waveguide device, the Y-beam splitter coupler, can also be manufactured using DLW process. Landowski’s group studied a low-loss and high-integration density waveguide with an overall size of 300 μm × 300 μm written on the negative photoresist EpoClad 50 polymer material [72]. The writing system uses an ultrashort pulse laser with 780 nm center wavelength, 100 to 200 fs pulse length, 80 MHz repetition rate.…”

“…Due to various separation angles, the insertion loss decreases as the length of the beam splitter increases. It is proposed that these fabricated devices can be possibly applied in quantum optical network with high integration density [72]. Polymer waveguide fabricated by DLW can also realize photonic wire bonding, which is widely used in the interconnection of multi-chip integrated photonic circuits [73].…”

“…( a , b ) The SEM image of the runway with several Y beam splitters with different separation lengths and the enlarged view of the Y area; ( c ) intensity distribution of the input and output at maximum transmission; ( d ) dependence between inbalance, insertion loss and separation length LBS; and the dimensional maps of ( e ) insertion loss and ( f ) imbalance of the longest waveguide shown as a function of the in-coupling position (x, y) [72]. …”