Open AccessTrimming laser-written waveguides through overwriting
Author(s) -
Thomas Will,
Jun Guan,
Patrick S. Salter,
Martin J. Booth
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.400623
Subject(s) - trimming , laser , fabrication , optics , waveguide , femtosecond , electronic circuit , materials science , optoelectronics , coupling (piping) , computer science , physics , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , quantum mechanics , metallurgy , operating system
Femtosecond laser direct writing is widely used to create waveguide circuits for optical processing in applications including communications, astrophotonics, simulation and quantum information processing. The properties of these waveguide circuits can be sensitive to the fabrication conditions, meaning that noticeable variability can be present in nominally identical manufactured components. One potential solution to this problem is the use of device trimming, whereby additional laser fabrication is applied to optimise the optical properties of a device based upon measurement feedback. We show how this approach can be used in the manufacture of directional couplers by overwriting the laser-written structure to alter the coupling ratios.