A compact photonic horizontal spot-size converter realized in silicon-on-insulator

We present a compact planar coupler connecting two optical waveguides with highly different widths. The coupler consists of various nonperiodic waveguide sections, whose dimensions are determined using a genetic optimization algorithm. Efficiencies that exceed those of the more conventional designs with similar lengths, like gradual linear tapers, were obtained in silicon-on-insulator using 248-nm-deep ultraviolet lithography.