Ultra-low loss hollow core waveguide using high-contrast gratings

US8442374B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Connie Chang-Hasnain · Palo Alto, US
• Ye Zhou · London, GB
• Vadim Karagodsky · Berkeley, US
• Forrest Sedgwick · Berkeley, US
• Michael Huang · Taipei, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2011
• Grant date: May 14, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/122
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Optical waveguides using segmented periodically-spaced high contrast gratings bounding a hollow core propagation region on at least two sides. Incident light is received in a hollow waveguide (HW) region (core) between opposing HCG faces which provide lateral confinement in response to glancing reflections of the incident light beam from high refractive index segments of the HCG as it traverses the core. Embodiments are described for planar waveguides (1D) having a planar core between two planar HCGs, as well as 2D waveguides, such as having rectangular segments of the HCG through which light is propagated. Additionally, other configurations of HCG-HW, including those having arbitrary incidence and azimuth, angled HCG segments, propagation in a direction which is transverse, or alternatively parallel, to the segments of the HCG.