Design and manufacturing of glass miniaturized optical systems for compact fiber-to-chip connectivity (Conference Presentation)

The penetration of integrated optics into diverse application fields relies on technological advancements that can comply with demanding performance requirements. For passive elements, achieving micron-scale dimensional and positioning accuracy and nanometer-scale shape or surface qualities is challenging due to multi-step fabrication processes. FEMTOprint's advanced photonics platform enables monolithic combinations of glass micro-components, including fiber inlets, 3D waveguides, and micro-optical elements. Monolithic integration effectively addresses alignment challenges but demands careful trade-offs: FEMTOprint's design-for-manufacturing (DFM) simulation platform allows to consider actual fabrication capabilities and constraints at the design stage and to get predictions about the final device’s performance. As an example, we present a tight-bend free-space optical arrangement consisting of precise cavities hosting two single-mode fibers coupled via a curved micro-mirror, on a single glass monobloc. The effectiveness of the DFM platform is shown by improving the coupling efficiency between input and output fibers using the simulation tool.