Abstract

WDM fiber optic networks, both in 1.3 pm and 1.55 µm transmission windows, demand mass producible, low cost, low excess loss, wideband, monolithically fused miniature 1×N and N×N couplers for various system applications. Conventional approaches arrange fibers in equilateral polygon shape in a capillary to make 3×3, 4×4, 7×7 or 19×19 fiber couplers. To attain wide bandwidth, complicated fiber preparation processes such as pre-pulling, pre-etching or pre-deposition are required. To eliminate such shortcomings, a systematic theoretical analysis was performed on 1×N and N×N couplers, and a new monolithical fabrication method had been developed.

© 1998 IEEE