In a reflective self-organized lightwave network (R-SOLNET), an optical waveguide and optical devices with reflective materials on their core facets are placed in a photo-refractive material, whose refractive index increases with write beam exposure. By introducing write beams from the waveguide, self-aligned waveguides are formed between them by the “pulling water” effect induced by the reflected write beams from the reflective materials. R-SOLNET was formed between an optical fiber and an Al micro-mirror with an angular misalignment of 3°, or an offset of 30 µm. Finite difference time domain calculations revealed that Y-branch R-SOLNET is formed by placing two reflective materials.
To reduce efforts for optical assembly, we developed the reflective self-organized lightwave network (R-SOLNET). In R-SOLNET, optical devices with wavelength filters on their core facets are distributed in photo-induced refractive-index increase (PRI) media such as photo-polymers. Write beams from some devices and reflected write beams from the wavelength filters of the other devices overlap. In the overlap regions, the refractive index increases, pulling the write beams to the wavelength filter locations (the "pulling water" effect). By self-focusing, self-aligned optical waveguide networks are formed between the optical devices. Simulations based on the finite difference time domain method revealed that self-aligned optical waveguides of R-SOLNET are formed between cores with 2-μm and 0.5-μm widths including Y-branching waveguides. Experiments demonstrated that R-SOLNET is formed between an optical fiber and a micro-mirror placed with ~800-μm gap. For angular misalignment of 3 o between the optical fiber and the micro-mirror, a bow-shaped R-SOLNET was observed. For lateral misalignment of 30 μm, an S-shaped R-SOLNET was observed. These results suggest that by placing reflective elements in PRI media, optical waveguides can be lead to the elements to form R-SOLNET. This enables self-aligned optical couplings for optoelectronic boards, intra-chip optical circuits, VCSELs/PDs, optical switches, and so on.
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