Joint Summer Research Conference in the Mathematical Sciences
Mathematical Modeling of Novel Optical Materials and Devices
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David Dobson

Optimal mode coupling in simple planar waveguides

Abstract: Despite recent advances in photonic crystal waveguides, conventional dielectric channel and strip waveguides are still the primary devices for localizing and moving optical signals in chip-level integrated photonic structures. These waveguides are typically low-loss and relatively easy to fabricate. A fundamental engineering problem associated with these structures is how to couple energy into and out of the waveguide, particularly for "single mode" structures where the cross section of the waveguide is generally smaller than the free space wavelength of the incoming signal. In this talk we propose an approach for designing efficient waveguide couplers by formulating and numerically solving an associated mathematical optimization problem.

Snowbird, Utah     June 11 - 17, 2005