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US 12,761,419 B2Granted
Waveguide with periodic index of refraction cladding
AssigneeQuantinuum LLC
InventorChristopher Ertsgaard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments provide a waveguide with reduced optical power loss. The waveguide comprises a waveguide core having a core index of refraction; and a cladding disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of the waveguide core. The cladding includes a plurality of layers that define a periodic index of refraction. The plurality of layers includes a core-adjacent layer having a core-adjacent layer index of refraction. The core index of refraction is greater than the core-adjacent layer index of refraction.
Claims19
A waveguide comprising:
- a waveguide core having a core index of refraction;
- and
- a cladding disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of the waveguide core, the cladding comprising a plurality of layers that define a periodic index of refraction,
- wherein the plurality of layers comprises a plurality of sets of layers, each set of layers of the plurality of sets of layers comprising at least a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer such that the plurality of layers comprises first cladding layers and second cladding layers, the first cladding layers each have a first depth that is less than or equal to a coherence length of light to be transmitted through the waveguide in a material of the first cladding layers, and the second cladding layers each have a second depth that is less than or equal to a coherence length of light to be transmitted through the waveguide in a material of the second cladding layers,
- wherein the plurality of layers comprises a core-adjacent layer having a core-adjacent layer index of refraction,
- wherein the core index of refraction is greater than the core-adjacent layer index of refraction;
- and
- wherein the first cladding layers are characterized by a first layer index of refraction and the second cladding layer are characterized by a second layer index of refraction, and the core index of refraction is greater than the first layer index of refraction and less than or equal to the second layer index of refraction.
5 more elements
A method for fabricating a waveguide, the method comprising:
- forming a waveguide core from a waveguide core material, the waveguide core having a core index of refraction;
- and
- forming a cladding around at least a portion of the waveguide core, the cladding comprising a plurality of layers that define a periodic index of refraction,
- wherein the plurality of layers is formed to comprise a plurality of sets of layers, each set of layers of the plurality of sets of layers comprising at least a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer such that the plurality of layers comprises first cladding layers and second cladding layers, the first cladding layers each have a first depth that is less than or equal to a coherence length of light to be transmitted through the waveguide in a material of the first cladding layers, and the second cladding layers each have a second depth that is less than or equal to a coherence length of light to be transmitted through the waveguide in a material of the second cladding layers,
- wherein the plurality of layers comprises a core-adjacent layer having a core-adjacent layer index of refraction,
- wherein the core index of refraction is greater than the core-adjacent layer index of refraction;
- and
- wherein the first cladding layers are characterized by a first layer index of refraction and the second cladding layers are characterized by second layer index of refraction, and the core index of refraction is greater than the first layer index of refraction and less than or equal to the second layer index of refraction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.