Theory of an efficient N×N passive optical star coupler

Author

Tabiani, Mahmoud ; Kavehrad, Mohsen

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Ottawa Univ., Ont., Canada

Volume

9

Issue

4

fYear

1991

fDate

4/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

448

Lastpage

455

Abstract

A method for configuring an efficient N×N optical passive star coupler is introduced. It makes the construction of a one-piece coupler possible and thus eliminates the excess loss problem associated with cascade couplers and reduces the structural complexity. The authors show that a 100% efficiency figure can be achieved through the entire array by using a properly designed space-varying refractive-index slab. The authors give a mathematical analysis of the space-varying refractive-index slab and examine spatial frequencies of the required refractive-index pattern. The authors demonstrate how the wave-mixing method can be utilized as one possible method of configuring such a slab, using a constant temporal optical frequency involving nonlinear media such as photorefractive crystals

Keywords

integrated optics; multiwave mixing; optical couplers; photorefractive materials; refractive index; N×N passive optical star coupler; constant temporal optical frequency; excess loss problem; nonlinear media; one-piece coupler; photorefractive crystals; refractive-index pattern; space-varying refractive-index slab; spatial frequencies; structural complexity; wave-mixing method; Frequency; Mathematical analysis; Nonlinear optics; Optical coupling; Optical mixing; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Refractive index; Resists; Slabs;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.76658

Filename

76658