High efficiency side-coupling of light into opticalfibres using imbedded v-grooves

Abstract

Transverse v-grooves, directly formed into the side of an optical fibre, totally reflect light incident on the fibre side-wall, directing it along the fibre axis. For a 96 µm core fibre, light incident from a laser diode is coupled into the fibre by the v-groove with 96% coupling efficiency.