Coupling single-mode fiber to uniform and symmetrically tapered thin-film waveguide structures using gadolinium gallium garnet

The need for high efficiency components has grown significantly due to the expanding role of fiber optic communications for various applications. Integrated optics is in a state of metamorphosis and there are many problems awaiting solutions. One of the main problems being the lack of a simple and efficient method of coupling single-mode fibers to thin-film devices for integrated optics. Optical coupling between a single-mode fiber and a uniform and tapered thin-film waveguide is theoretically modeled and analyzed. The novel tapered structure presented is shown to produce a perfect match for power transfer.