Low loss integrated optical Y-branch

Abstract

An antenna-coupled Y-branch with the advantages of low branching and short coupled length, and hence, compact size, is proposed. This structure is free from the critical fabrication requirements that are associated with the directional-coupler-type power dividers and 3 dB couplers. There is no need for any extra bending elements, hence, no bending loss, when this structure is used as a 3 dB coupler power divider of the Mach-Zehnder-type switch. Detailed theoretical analysis (both two-dimensional and three-dimensional) is carried out.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>