title: Microlenses for coupling junction lasers to optical fibers.
abstract: Microscopic lenses, fabricated on optical fiber surfaces, have quadrupled the efficiency for coupling astigmatic beams from GaAs junction lasers into 4-microm cores of single-mode fibers. A novel photolithographic technique was used to make hemispherical and hemicylindrical microlenses, with diameters between 4 microm and 10 microm, from commercially available negative type photoresist that is transparent at ir laser wavelengths. Geometrical profiles of photoresist lenses, documented with scanning electron photomicrographs, were remarkably smooth even though their dimensions were more than an order of magnitude smaller than other known lenses.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Schneider