Precise mode control of laser-written waveguides for broadband, low-dispersion 3D integrated optics

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) glass chips are promising waveguide platforms for building hybrid 3D photonic circuits due to their 3D topological capabilities, large transparent windows, and low coupling dispersion. At present, the key challenge in scaling down a benchtop optical system to a glass chip is the lack of precise methods for controlling the mode field and optical coupling of 3D waveguide circuits. Here, we propose an overlap-controlled multi-scan (OCMS) method based on laser-direct lithography that allows customizing the refractive index profile of 3D waveguides with high spatial precision in a variety of glasses. On the basis of this method, we achieve variable mode-field distribution, robust and broadband coupling, and thereby demonstrate dispersionless LP₂₁-mode conversion of supercontinuum pulses with the largest deviation of <0.1 dB in coupling ratios on 210 nm broadband. This approach provides a route to achieve ultra-broadband and low-dispersion coupling in 3D photonic circuits, with overwhelming advantages over conventional planar waveguide-optic platforms for on-chip transmission and manipulation of ultrashort laser pulses and broadband supercontinuum.