Abstract

There is an increasing interest in passive optical integrated devices based on multimode interference (MMI), that can produce real one-dimensional self-images by interference of the waveguide modes [1,2,3]. These type of devices include 3 dB couplers [4,5,6,7], passive optical 90° hybrids [11] and power combiners/splitters [8,9,10]. The last ones are usually made by means of Y- Junction or 3 dB coupled based structures. Multimode interference provides shorter and more compact devices than adiabatic ones, and preserve the balanced output characteristics. Recently, a general design method for 1xN MMI power splitters/combiners has been developed [8,9]. We present here more detailed designing formulas and report the first implementation of these devices on InP materials. Results of a fabrication tolerance analysis are also presented.

© 1993 Optical Society of America