Open AccessLow-cost and efficient coupling technique using reflowed sol-gel microlens
Author(s) -
Miao He,
Xiaocong Yuan,
Nam Quoc Ngo,
Jong-Uk Bu,
Shaohua Tao
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.11.001621
Subject(s) - microlens , materials science , optics , coupling (piping) , fabrication , diode , optoelectronics , coupling loss , refractive index , laser diode , optical fiber , lens (geology) , composite material , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology
In this paper, we present a novel reflow technique for the fabrication of an elliptical microlens array in sol-gel glass. The fabricated refractive microlens array has a very smooth surface, and structural and dimensional conformity with the designed parameters. It is shown that the microlens array can provide high coupling efficiency of a laser diode to a single mode fiber, and relax the lateral and axial misalignment tolerance. The microlens coupling technique has the advantages of low coupling loss, large misalignment tolerances, and small package volume.