The authors demonstrate an ultra-compact, low-loss vertical mode transfer b
etween a 1.55 mu m InGaAsP QW active waveguide and a well-confined passive
waveguide using a 100 mu m long taper on both the active and passive wavegu
ide. The radiation loss during the transfer was measured to be less than 0.
5dB. The device was fabricated using a single epitaxial growth and conventi
onal fabrication schemes. This approach will improve the new platform techn
ology for integrating active and passive photonic devices reported earlier.