Fabrication and simulation of multimode symmetrical and asymmetrical Y-junction optical power splitters

This paper presents the fabrication and simulation of multimode symmetrical and asymmetrical optical power splitters based on embedded Y-junction optical polymer waveguide. Due to its highly multimode in nature, the designs were simulated using non-sequential ray tracing technique. The waveguiding which consists of 1 × 1 mm cross-section region was fabricated using transparent adhesive polymer (NOA63) on an acrylic plastic substrate. Experimental work on symmetrical waveguide results in 50:50 power splitting ratios with ±2% error. A new design of asymmetrical waveguide, which utilized the main bus-line of the input port connected direct to the tap line was simulated and demonstrates a good power splitting ratios ranging from 1% to 99%.