Integrated optical waveguide devices on silicon for optical communications

This paper reviews the development of silica-on-silicon integrated optics technology for communication systems. Commencing with a description of the waveguide fabrication process, with particular attention to deposition processes. Fibre pigtailing technology is then described. A range of passive components are detailed, concentrating on couplers, splitters and wavelength division multiplexers. Recent developments in rare-earth doping of silica-on-silicon waveguides are given. The paper concludes with some discussion on future directions for silica-on-silicon research and development.