Towards efficient mid-infrared integrated photonic-lanterns

We report the fabrication and characterization of a prototype integrated photonic-lantern for operation in the mid-IR (lambda = 3.39 mu m). The device was fabricated in a commercial gallium lanthanum sulphide chalcogenide glass substrate using ultrafast laser inscription. It was formed by inscribing a two-dimensional array of single-mode waveguides, which were then brought increasingly close together to form a single multimode waveguide. We demonstrate that the lantern successfully transforms particular single-mode states into well-defined coherent multimode states, with a loss comparable to that of a straight single-mode waveguide of the same length as the lantern (similar to 1.6 dB). We conclude, therefore, that the device should also work equally well in the reverse direction, thus enabling the low-loss conversion of mid-IR multimode states of light into discrete single-modes. This technology may be useful in a variety of emerging areas, including free-space laser communications and mid-infrared heterodyne spectroscopy.