Open AccessMetamaterial-waveguide bends with effective bend radius < λ_0/2
Author(s) -
Bing Shen,
Randy Polson,
Rajesh Me
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.40.005750
Subject(s) - optics , metamaterial , broadband , bend radius , bandwidth (computing) , dielectric , fabrication , footprint , waveguide , materials science , photonics , radius , optoelectronics , physics , telecommunications , computer science , medicine , paleontology , alternative medicine , computer security , pathology , bending , composite material , biology
We designed, fabricated, and characterized broadband, efficient, all-dielectric metamaterial-waveguide bends (MWBs) that redirect light by 180 deg. The footprint of each MWB is 3 μm×3 μm and redirection is achieved for single-mode waveguides spaced by 1.3 μm, which corresponds to an effective bend radius of 0.65 μm (<λ₀/2 for λ₀=1.55 μm). The designed and measured transmission efficiencies are >80% and ∼70%, respectively. Furthermore, the MWBs have an operating bandwidth >66 nm (design) and >56 nm (experiments). Our design methodology that incorporates fabrication constraints enables highly robust devices. The methodology can be extended to the general routing of light in tight spaces for large-scale photonic integration.