Roughness, inhomogeneity, and integrated optics

Author

Ladouceur, François

Author_Institution

Opt. Sci. Centre, Australian Nat. Univ., Canberra, ACT, Australia

Volume

15

Issue

6

fYear

1997

fDate

6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1020

Lastpage

1025

Abstract

Surface roughness (and more generally) inhomogeneity is a constraining factor on optoelectronics devices. Its more conspicuous effect is to scatter light thus leading to power attenuation. This effect partly explains the five orders of magnitude difference in attenuation between fibers and integrated waveguides. Less well known is the effect of roughness on back-coupling and mode coupling in devices such as couplers and gratings. I present here an overview of these effect analyzed from a heuristic approach based upon the length scales of the dominant physical mechanism present in such devices

Keywords

coupled mode analysis; diffraction gratings; integrated optics; light scattering; optical couplers; optical losses; optoelectronic devices; surface topography; back-coupling; couplers; gratings; heuristic approach; inhomogeneity; integrated optics; integrated waveguides; length scales; mode coupling; optoelectronics devices; overview; physical mechanism; power attenuation; scatter light; surface roughness; Integrated optics; Light scattering; Optical attenuators; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber devices; Optical scattering; Optical surface waves; Optoelectronic devices; Rough surfaces; Surface roughness;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.588676

Filename

588676