Theoretical analysis of integrated collimating waveguide lens

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 1046 - 1052
• Main Authors: Mackenzie, M.R., Chee Yee Kwok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.04.2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Beams (radiation); Circuit properties; Circuits; Collimation; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Focusing; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Lenses; Micro- and nanoelectromechanical devices (mems/nems); Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical beams; Optical collimators; Optical planar waveguides; Optical propagation; Optical waveguide theory; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Planes; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Switching, multiplexing, switched capacity circuits; Tolerances; Waveguide theory; Waveguides; Performance evaluation; Integrated optics; Electromechanical device; waveguide switches; Refraction index; Gradient index; lens waveguides; Waveguide; Switching; micro- electromechanical devices; Beam propagation method; Optical losses; Microoptoelectromechanical device; Optical beam; Planar waveguide; Graded index optics; Optical planar waveguides; Optical focusing; Optical waveguide; Selector switch
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2003.810105

An integrated collimating waveguide lens is analyzed for applications which require the focusing of an optical beam onto the waveguide of a planar lightwave circuit. The lens has a refractive index profile which is parabolically graded as a function of height to focus light in the vertical plane, and has a convex front face to focus light in the horizontal plane. Analysis based on the propagation of a Gaussian field is used to design a lens pair which minimizes the optical loss for a given propagation length. The beam propagation method is used to identify fabrication tolerances which may have impact on the performance of the lens pair. The lens pair has application in micro-optoelectromechanical (MOEM) switches based on planar optical waveguide circuits.