Abstract
We describe a silica-based arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) with low
channel-dependent loss variation achieved by using mode-field converters
designed with the wavefront matching method. This mode-field converter
converts the fundamental mode of the arrayed waveguide into the field
distribution with a flat-top far field at the interface between the slab and
output waveguides. We applied our mode-field converters to an AWG with a
100-GHz channel spacing and reduced the loss deviations experimentally from
2.4 to 0.7 dB over one free spectral range. Moreover, we confirmed that the
introduction of our mode-field converters had no adverse effects on the AWG
demultiplexing characteristics. It is notable that the loss uniformity was
improved solely by replacing the conventional tapered waveguide between the
arrayed waveguides and output slab waveguide with our mode-field converter
without sacrificing the fabrication manageability or AWG design
flexibility.
© 2009 IEEE
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