Waveguide turning mirror with transverse extension

A photonics structure comprising:

• optical routing apparatus for routing optical energy within the photonics structure, the optical routing apparatus comprising:
• a first waveguide comprising a first waveguide core with cladding of a lower refractive index than the first waveguide core;
• a second waveguide comprising a second waveguide core with cladding of a lower refractive index than the second waveguide core, the second waveguide core is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first waveguide core;
• and
• a turning mirror configured to turn optical energy carried by either the first waveguide core or the second waveguide core and at least some portion of the optical energy carried by the cladding that surrounds the first waveguide or the second waveguide, coupling the first waveguide to the second waveguide.

A method of forming an optical routing apparatus, the method comprising:

• forming a first waveguide core in a first cladding layer;
• forming a second cladding layer on top of the first waveguide core and the first cladding layer;
• forming an opening in the second cladding layer that physically exposes a portion of the first waveguide core;
• forming a waveguide stud portion in the opening and contacting the first waveguide core;
• forming a slanted opening in the second cladding layer and the first cladding layer and adjacent to an area in which the first waveguide core contacts the waveguide stud portion;
• and
• forming a turning mirror in the slanted opening and adjacent to the area in which the first waveguide core contacts the waveguide stud portion.