Photonic-crystal spot-size converter

We have demonstrated a spot-size converter (SSC) that is made of photonic c rystals (PCs) and has a conversion ratio of 10:1 for a 1-mu m-wavelength li ght beam. Its real-spatial distribution was narrowed by intentionally broad ening its wave vector distribution and increasing effective refractive inde x. The advantage of this PC-based SSC over conventional bulk-based SSC are compactness (monolithic integration), positional independence, and extremel y deep depth of focus. This PC-SSC is a candidate for an interface between photonic-crystal waveguides and conventional optical waveguides. (C) 2000 A merican Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)00903-7].