Fabrication of single-mode Y-branch waveguides in photosensitive polymer with reduced Y-junction residue

Abstract

Single-mode small-core (∼2 μm × 2 μm) Y-branch waveguide structures in photosensitive polymer have been fabricated. Y-branch waveguides are designed by the beam propagation method and Y-branch waveguides are obtained on development after a cross-linkable negative tone epoxy SU-8 2002 polymer is exposed to UV through a photomask. Optical Adhesive NOA 61 is used as under- and over-clad. The fabrication process is optimized to avoid polymer residue at the Y-junction. The average insertion loss obtained for a 7.2 mm 1 × 2 device at chip-level is ∼13 dB at 1550 nm.