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Micromachined multimode interference device in flat-fiber

Micromachined multimode interference device in flat-fiber
Micromachined multimode interference device in flat-fiber
A novel flat-fiber platform is presented for fabricating integrated optical multimode interference (MMI) devices. Fabrication is achieved by modifying a standard optical fiber drawing process and applying a micromachining technique. The fabricated structure consists of an MMI region within the flat-fiber that is defined by micromachined trenches, illustrated in Figure 1(a). A 1×3 splitter has been demonstrated, with a spatial output mode that be tuned by placing refractive index oils within the micromachined trenches.
MMI devices have been demonstrated in different planar platforms such as silicon-on-insulator and silica-on-silicon. However, many of these materials are potentially expensive, high loss or have a complex fabrication process. The desire to have a fiber-like platform, capable of supporting multiple waveguides in a planar format, led us to develop a novel silica optical flat-fiber technology. This allows us to overcome the limitations of existing planar technologies by offering a low cost, low loss substrate with fiber-like flexibility, long lengths and the ability to make integrated devices. The flat-fiber substrate is fabricated using standard silica fiber fabrication but differs by collapsing the preform during the fiber drawing stage by using a vacuum. The trenches of the device were diced using an ultra-precision micromachining technique.
Ambran, S.
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Holmes, C.
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Gates, J.C.
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Webb, A.S.
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Smith, P.G.R.
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Sahu, J.K.
009f5fb3-6555-411a-9a0c-9a1b5a29ceb2
Ambran, S.
9dab29a4-1179-4e21-acf6-182c12d29998
Holmes, C.
16306bb8-8a46-4fd7-bb19-a146758e5263
Gates, J.C.
b71e31a1-8caa-477e-8556-b64f6cae0dc2
Webb, A.S.
ec165a7d-68cb-4dc6-8382-b529e217c659
Smith, P.G.R.
8979668a-8b7a-4838-9a74-1a7cfc6665f6
Sahu, J.K.
009f5fb3-6555-411a-9a0c-9a1b5a29ceb2

Ambran, S., Holmes, C., Gates, J.C., Webb, A.S., Smith, P.G.R. and Sahu, J.K. (2010) Micromachined multimode interference device in flat-fiber. Photonics Global Conference, Singapore, Singapore. 13 - 16 Dec 2012. 1 pp . (doi:10.1109/PGC.2010.5705970).

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

A novel flat-fiber platform is presented for fabricating integrated optical multimode interference (MMI) devices. Fabrication is achieved by modifying a standard optical fiber drawing process and applying a micromachining technique. The fabricated structure consists of an MMI region within the flat-fiber that is defined by micromachined trenches, illustrated in Figure 1(a). A 1×3 splitter has been demonstrated, with a spatial output mode that be tuned by placing refractive index oils within the micromachined trenches.
MMI devices have been demonstrated in different planar platforms such as silicon-on-insulator and silica-on-silicon. However, many of these materials are potentially expensive, high loss or have a complex fabrication process. The desire to have a fiber-like platform, capable of supporting multiple waveguides in a planar format, led us to develop a novel silica optical flat-fiber technology. This allows us to overcome the limitations of existing planar technologies by offering a low cost, low loss substrate with fiber-like flexibility, long lengths and the ability to make integrated devices. The flat-fiber substrate is fabricated using standard silica fiber fabrication but differs by collapsing the preform during the fiber drawing stage by using a vacuum. The trenches of the device were diced using an ultra-precision micromachining technique.

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e-pub ahead of print date: December 2010
Published date: December 2010
Venue - Dates: Photonics Global Conference, Singapore, Singapore, 2012-12-13 - 2012-12-16
Organisations: Optoelectronics Research Centre

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 340029
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/340029
PURE UUID: cd2c9c5c-fb1f-4c52-bb53-7e41dce5bc92
ORCID for C. Holmes: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9021-3760
ORCID for J.C. Gates: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8671-5987
ORCID for P.G.R. Smith: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0319-718X
ORCID for J.K. Sahu: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3560-6152

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Date deposited: 07 Jun 2012 12:21
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:27

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Contributors

Author: S. Ambran
Author: C. Holmes ORCID iD
Author: J.C. Gates ORCID iD
Author: A.S. Webb
Author: P.G.R. Smith ORCID iD
Author: J.K. Sahu ORCID iD

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