title: Objective-first design of high-efficiency, small-footprint couplers between arbitrary nanophotonic waveguide modes.
abstract: We present an algorithm for designing high efficiency (∼98%), small-footprint (1.5-4 square vacuum wavelengths) couplers between arbitrary nanophotonic waveguide modes in two dimensions. Our "objective-first" method is computationally fast (15 minutes on a single-core personal computer), requires no trial-and-error, and does not require guessing a good starting design. We demonstrate designs for various coupling problems which suggest that our method allows for the design of any single-mode, linear optical device.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA. jesselu@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vučković
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017785:Photons; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*