Scalable and robust beam shaping using apodized fish-bone grating couplers

Published

November 20, 2023

Author(s)

Chad Ropp, Dhriti Maurya, Alexander Yulaev, Daron Westly, Gregory Simelgor, Vladimir Aksyuk

Abstract

Efficient power coupling between guided and free-space optical modes requires precision spatial mode matching with apodized Bragg gratings. Yet, grating apodizations are often limited by the minimum feature size realizable by the fabrication approach, especially at shorter wavelengths and for large area grating couplers. Here, we demonstrate a fish-bone grating coupler design for precision beam shaping and generation of millimeter-scale beams at visible wavelengths. Our design decouples the minimum structural feature size from the minimum achievable optical scattering strength, allowing smooth turn-on and continuous control of the emission. It is compatible with photolithography and has reduced sensitivity to both the resolution and the variability of the fabrication approach compared to subwavelength metagratings.

Citation

Optics Express

Volume

31

Issue

24

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.506199

Local Download

Keywords

metagratings, PIC, photonic integrated circuit, beam projection, extreme mode converter

Citation

Ropp, C. , Maurya, D. , Yulaev, A. , Westly, D. , Simelgor, G. and Aksyuk, V. (2023), Scalable and robust beam shaping using apodized fish-bone grating couplers, Optics Express, [online], https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.506199, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956464 (Accessed October 9, 2025)