Composite subwavelength-structured waveguide in optical systems

US8503839B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• National Research Council of Canada · CA

Inventors

• Pavel Cheben · Ottawa, CA
• Przemek J. Bock · Ottawa, CA
• Jens Schmid · Ottawa, CA
• Dan Xu · Vernon Hills, US
• Adam Densmore · Victoria, CA
• Siegfried Janz · Ottawa, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 13, 2012
• Grant date: Aug 6, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2202/30
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A waveguide cores consisting of a subwavelength grating permits transmission of light without diffraction in a discontinuous manner, wherein the energy is provided by field hopping between subwavelength material segments of higher index. The use of alternating segments permits design of waveguides having desired effective index, mode confinement factor, birefringence, polarization mode or mode dispersions, polarization dependent loss, thermal sensitivity, or nonlinear optical coefficient. An optical system comprises a waveguide having such a core, clad on at least one side, extending between two ends, and wavelength-limiting optical components in optical communication with the ends.