Quasi planar spot-size transformer for efficient coupling between a cleaved fibre and an InP/InGaAsP rib waveguide

A spot-size transformer structure is proposed for InP/InGaAsP double-heterostructure (DH) rib waveguide. Vertical expansion of a factor of 7 is achieved with 3 dB internal loss. Coupling from standard cleaved fibre (11 μm diameter mode) to a DH rib waveguide (5.8×0.8 μm large mode), is achieved with 4.5 dB polarisation independent loss. Coupling tolerances are highly relaxed. The fabrication method uses a thin cladding layer which ends up to a quasi-planar structure suitable with further integration process.