Ming C. Wu (Advisor)

We design and experimentally demonstrate a new silicon photonic fiber coupling method using integrated microlens couplers. Efficient, broadband and polarization-insensitive coupling to a single mode fiber with a best coupling loss of 0.8 dB is achieved.

Project currently funded by: Industry Sponsor

**Project merged with BPNX1012 on 08/14/2024**

Integrated silicon photonic switches enable routing of optical signals and real-time reconfiguration of the optical networks in data centers and high performance computers. Reducing the operating voltage while preserving the required switching properties is vital to realize their full potential for real-time routing driven by CMOS electronics. Silicon photonic MEMS switches, based on electrostatic actuation, have employed high voltages because of constraints in mechanical designs aimed at eliminating parasitic effects. On the other hand, recent developments in piezoelectric thin...

Despite the current widespread use of silicon photonics, fiber coupling remains one of the principal challenges in mass production. Integrated microlens couplers (IMCs) have been demonstrated as an efficient, broadband, and polarization-insensitive method for wafer-scale fiber-to-chip coupling, with a previously achieved free-space coupling loss of 0.6 dB. In this project, our goal is to further improve the performance and enhance the fabrication robustness of our IMCs. Specifically, we are replacing the polymer with hard material and developing a design that balances rotational and...