Open AccessCrossing and branching nodes in soft-lithography-based optical interconnects
Author(s) -
Wei Ni,
Jing Cynthia Wu,
Xiankun Wu
Publication year - 2007
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.15.012872
Subject(s) - optics , branching (polymer chemistry) , lithography , materials science , multi mode optical fiber , interconnection , crosstalk , physics , optical fiber , telecommunications , computer science , composite material
We investigate the characteristics of crossing and branching nodes in monolayer soft-lithography-based polymer optical interconnects with experimental and theoretical analysis. The theoretical crosstalk, as calculated by a function of crossing angle, was determined for a set of interconnect pairs with varying cross-sections, and was compared with experimental measurements. Furthermore, a suitable branching angle was found for branching node and the effects of short-distance mode scrambling in highly multimode polymer waveguides were studied in detail. It was found that mode-filling occurred within a propagation distance of 1.5mm for a 50x50mum2 cross-section for VCSEL coupling; however, complete scrambling of ray direction required a propagation distance of more than 5mm.