Photopolymer Waveguide to Fiber Coupling via 3d Direct-write Lithography

Date The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. Photopolymer Waveguide to Fiber Coupling via 3D Direct-Write Lithography Thesis directed by Professor Robert R. McLeod This thesis proposes and demonstrates a novel method of pigtailing optical circuits by accurately aligning a waveguide to a fiber previously embedded in photopolymer. An automated, iterative method locates two embedded optical fiber tips by employing both a reflection and transmission microscope to obtain 3D positions of the fiber tips. This eliminates the need for precise fiber positioning, and low loss pigtailing can be achieved with arbitrarily positioned fibers. The photopolymer pigtailing method is demonstrated by interconnecting two arbitrarily positioned fibers across 30 mm of photopolymer. A 3D direct-write platform enables control over the position, direction, and length of the polymer waveguide interconnect, and aligns the polymer waveguide to within 3 μm of the fiber tip. The path of the waveguide includes 4 s-bends to accurately couple light from the input fiber to the relatively offset output fiber. By employing this method of pigtailing, precise alignment of the fiber is not necessary, and alignment of the interconnecting waveguide is accomplished through an automated system. The photopolymer solution additionally increases reliability of the pigtail by encasing all elements in a mechanically robust package. iv Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Robert R. McLeod for his patience and diligence in helping me complete this thesis. My parents, brother, and girlfriend Julie Page must be recognized for their willingness to support and encourage me during my research and writing over the past two years. I would also like to thank InPhase Technologies for working with me and for providing their material in our unique packages. Finally, I would like to acknowledge NSF and CCIS for funding this work.