Matching of single-mode optical waveguides to semiconductor lasers

Theoretical estimates are obtained and an experimental study is made of the coupling of radiation from stripe and channel semiconductor lasers into single-mode fiber waveguides of two- and three-layer (W) types. Investigations of several variants of the matching devices are reported. It is shown that sufficiently efficient matching of stripe light sources to single-mode waveguides is achieved by axisymmetric focusing components (focons) and a calculation is reported of the optimal parameters of focons. A method for the fabrication of focons is described. The power coupled into two-layer and three-layer (W-type) single-mode waveguides is in the range 0.5–1 mW. The coupling into W-type waveguides is more efficient than in the case of two-layer waveguides.