INTEGRATED OPTICAL MODESHAPE ADAPTERS IN INGAASP INP FOR EFFICIENT FIBER-TO-WAVE-GUIDE COUPLING/

A concept for integrated optical modeshape adapters (IOMA's) for effic ient fiber-to-waveguide coupling is realized in InGaAsP/InP. The integ rated optical modeshape adapters (IOMA's) combine vertically tapered w aveguide cores with simultaneously up-tapered upper claddings. Their O EIC-compatible fabrication process is based on diffusion-limited etchi ng for the waveguide core tapers and selective area regrowth with LP-M OVPE for the up-tapered upper claddings, both using the same dielectri c mask. First realized devices, when coupled to lensed single-mode fib ers (SMF's), show optical losses as low as 1 dB per facet at 1.53-mum wavelength.