Photonic waveguide choke joint with non-absorptive loading

A choke joint, the choke joint comprising:

• a first array of pillars positioned on a substrate, each pillar in the first array of pillars having a first size and configured to receive an input plane wave at a first end of the choke joint, the choke joint having a second end configured to transmit the input plane wave away from the choke joint;
• a second array of pillars positioned on the substrate between the first array of pillars and the second end of the choke joint, each pillar in the second array of pillars having a second size;
• a third array of pillars positioned on the substrate between the second array of pillars and the second end of the choke joint, each pillar in the third array of pillars having a third size;
• and
• a fourth array of pillars interleaved near the second array of pillars, each pillar in the fourth array of pillars having the third size,
• wherein a configuration of the second array of pillars interleaved with the fourth array of pillars comprises a first row of pillars from the fourth array of pillars being nearer to the first end, followed by a first row of pillars from the second array of pillars, followed by a second row of pillars from the fourth array of pillars, followed by a second row of pillars from the second array of pillars.