Mode transformer for miniaturized optical circuits

A novel mode transformer was fabricated that transforms a modal area by a factor of 100. Using the mode transformer improves the efficiency of mode transformation by an order of magnitude compared with that when no mode transformer is used. With this mode transformer, input-output coupling of miniaturized, on-chip integrated optical circuits to external optical fibers is achieved with low loss. The mode transformer's design, fabricated in silicon, is scalable to virtually any waveguide size, facilitating continuous miniaturization in silicon optoelectronics. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.