Recent advances in computing technology have highlighted deficiencies with electrical interconnections at the motherboard and card-to-backplane levels. The CPU speeds of computing systems are drastically increasing with on-chip local clock speeds expected to approach 6 GHz by 2010. Yet, card-to-backplane communication speeds have been unable to maintain the same pace. At speeds beyond a few gigahertz the implementation of electronic interconnects gets increasingly complex, thus, alternative optical interconnection techniques are being extensively researched to relieve the expected CPU to data bus bottleneck. Despite the advantages afforded by optical interconnects there are still demands for improved packaging, enhanced signal tapping, and reduced cost expenditures. In this dissertation, we present a novel array waveguide evanescent coupling (AWEC) technology for card-to-backplane applications. The interconnection scheme is based on waveguide directional coupling between a backplane waveguide and a flexible waveguide connected to the access card or daughter board. To gain access to the shared bus media, coupling of evanescent waves is exploited to tap optical signals from the backplane waveguide to the corresponding card waveguide. The approach results in the elimination of micro-mirror out of plane deflectors and local waveguide termination obstacles present in other reported optical interconnect schemes. Most importantly, the AWEC method can yield efficient multi-drop bus architectures, not possible through free-space, fiber, or traditional guided wave approaches, that only achieve point-to-point topologies. The AWEC concept for optical interconnection was introduced through coupled mode theory, numerical simulations and BeamPROP aided CAD models. Subsequent experimental waveguide analysis was performed and shown to reasonably agree with the simulation results. Likewise, a high-resolution, cost-effective, and rapid prototyping approach for AWEC fabrication has been formulated. Significantly, when compared to other soft lithographic methods, the novel vacuum assisted microfluidic (VAM) technique results in improved waveguide structures, polymer background residue elimination and lower propagation losses. Moreover, experimental results show that our evanescent coupling approach facilitates high-speed coupling between card and backplane waveguides at speeds of 10 Gbps per channel; currently limited only by our testing electronics. In addition, satisfactory eye diagram performance comparable to that of a conventional fiber link, was also observed for the AWEC, alluding to possible aggregate speeds of 100 Gbps. Similarly, we implemented an elementary AWEC shared bus architecture and demonstrate a microprocessor-to-memory interconnect prototype through the proposed AWEC link. Notably, we expect that the AWEC scheme will be significant for high-speed optical interconnects in advanced computing systems.

This thesis provides design approaches for waveguide filter with prescribed transmission zeros. The emphasis is on a new class of filter, developed in recent years by utilizing non-resonating nodes (NRNs). First, a novel circuit model of the coupling irises of waveguide filters is developed in order to aid the design of waveguide filters with NRNs for relatively wide band applications. Also, analytical solutions of the circuit parameters are presented and verified by experimental design. Secondly, based on this new circuit model, a systematic approach for the design of filters with NRNs is developed and illustrated with two filters. The first has intermediate fractional bandwidth of 3.5%; Good results are obtained without performing global optimization. The second has a relatively wide fractional bandwidth of 8.33% and good results are achieved with very limited global optimization. The results are verified by EM simulations. Furthermore, for choosing an empty waveguide to realize the NRNs, some novel criteria are proposed to improve the spurious free window of the filter.

Several novel optical devices, which were designed to manipulate terahertz waves for broadband near-field imaging, wave-guiding (invisible space), and sensing (resonator), are presented in this thesis. We developed the original working concepts of each device, and demonstrated the prototype experimentally in our lab. The working concepts of physics were investigated in experiment, in simulation and in theoretical analysis. We exploited a tapered parallel-plate waveguide (PPWG) as a novel probe for broadband near-field imaging. This imaging probe consists of two metal plates with the plate spacing gradually tapered from one end to the other. We proved that the space tapering enables this probe to propagate the broadband THz waves efficiently (with low-loss, no cut-off and nearly no dispersion) from the input end of large spacing into the narrow end of sub-wavelength spacing. Working in a reflection mode, this imaging probe is proved to be able to differentiate the dielectric features as well as topographic information on the sample. Combined with the methodology of filtered back projection, we reconstructed a two-dimensional image of a gold pattern on a GaAs chip by using this tapered PPWG probe. The smallest feature of ~100 µm is resolved by using the waves with average wavelength of 1.5 mm. We studied the phenomenon of surface plasmon-polariton in THz range on the platform of a parallel-plate waveguide (PPWG). In this thesis, we show the characterization of the waveguide mode of a finite-width parallel plate waveguide by using an improved scattering-probe technique. An abrupt waveguide mode transition was observed at a very narrow frequency range. We demonstrated that this transition frequency is determined by the material properties of the waveguide, the frequencies of the electromagnetic waves as well as the geometry of the waveguide. This result provides a good guidance for the waveguide design for THz transmission. We also exploited the capability of using the spoof surface plasmon to enhance the reflectivity of an interface between free space and a PPWG. We demonstrated that the reflection coefficient of this interface can be enhanced up to ~100 % at a designed frequency, by cutting a designed pattern of periodic rectangular groove on the output facet of the PPWG. A lateral shift and a phase shift of the reflected beam is observed in the experiment, which is a strong reminiscent of Goos-Hanchen shift. We carried out the experimental, simulation and theoretical characterizations of the lateral and phase shift. As an application, we designed and demonstrated a prototype of a band-pass THz resonator. We introduced the concept of a waveguide-based two-dimensional inhomogeneous artificial dielectric into THz range. This artificial dielectric is the space between the two metal plates of a PPWG working in TE1 mode. We designed a THz mirage device (or an invisible space device) by using ray-tracing and full-wave simulations, which contributed to the first experimental demonstration of such a device. A metal coin of size several times larger than the working wavelength can be hidden in the device without casting any shadow. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Rajind Mendis and the author of this thesis contributed to the design and characterization of the device in simulations.

This thesis provides design approaches for waveguide filter with prescribed transmission zeros. The emphasis is on a new class of filter, developed in recent years by utilizing non-resonating nodes (NRNs). First, a novel circuit model of the coupling irises of waveguide filters is developed in order to aid the design of waveguide filters with NRNs for relatively wide band applications. Also, analytical solutions of the circuit parameters are presented and verified by experimental design. Secondly, based on this new circuit model, a systematic approach for the design of filters with NRNs is developed and illustrated with two filters. The first has intermediate fractional bandwidth of 3.5%; Good results are obtained without performing global optimization. The second has a relatively wide fractional bandwidth of 8.33% and good results are achieved with very limited global optimization. The results are verified by EM simulations. Furthermore, for choosing an empty waveguide to realize the NRNs, some novel criteria are proposed to improve the spurious free window of the filter.

In this dissertation, the development of an experimental prototype for on-board optical-to-electrical signal broadcasting at 10 Gb/s per channel over an interconnect distance of 10 cm was presented. The optical distribution network was implemented using a polymer-based 1-by-4 multimode interference (MMI) splitter with linearly tapered output facet. A 1-by-8 MMI splitter with input/output waveguides of 10 microns in width was first fabricated using standard photolithography and characterized at 40 Gb/s in NRZ format and PRBS = 2^7-1. The pulse response of MMI devices was further quantified from the time-dependent, pulse-modulated field propagation perspective incorporated with various dispersion mechanisms. The results predict their operating limitations and investigate why and how such devices become non-functional in the ultrashort-pulse limit that is far beyond the most present-day optical systems. The guided-mode attenuation associated with polymer waveguides fabricated on FR-4 printed-circuit boards was also investigated for the first time. The rigorous transmission-line network approach was applied and the FR-4 substrate was treated as a long-period substrate grating with rectangular corrugations. The peaks of attenuation were shown to occur near the Bragg conditions that were recognized as the leaky-wave stop bands. As the buffer layer thickness increases, the attenuation becomes negligibly small that is attributed to the weak grating-induced perturbation to the mode behavior. The prototype was then developed on the basis of both experimental verifications to the devices and theoretical investigations. An improved 1-by-4 MMI splitter at 1550 nm with linearly tapered output facet was heterogeneously integrated with four p-i-n photodetectors (PDs) on a silicon (Si) bench. The Si bench itself was then hybrid integrated onto an FR-4 printed-circuit board with four receiver channels composed of transimpedance amplifiers, limiting amplifiers, and surface-mounted components. The innovative integration approach demonstrated the simultaneous alignment between multiple waveguides and multiple PDs during the MMI fabrication process that is a complete radical departure from the conventional assembly method inherent from the telecommunication industry. The entire system was fully functional at 10 Gb/s per channel.

There is a drive for improving the surface uniformity of optical waveguide devices in the photonics lab. This report focuses on the exploration of annealed proton exchange (APE) waveguide fabrication on lithium niobate crystal as a method of producing optical waveguides. These waveguides aim to have little variation in step height or surface roughness in the transition area from the waveguide location to that of the bulk crystal, providing a uniform surface amenable to vertical device integration. This is a substantial improvement over the titanium diffused waveguide process, which can have surface variations in excess of 100nm. It is anticipated that the smoother surface will enable light to couple more easily into photonic devices, such as ring resonators, as compared to the current Ti diffused waveguide process. This work explores the design and fabrication aspects of annealed proton exchange waveguides. A review of literature on modeling hydrogen diffusion into lithium niobate is presented, as well as computer models for simulating the bidimensional fractional hydrogen proton concentration distribution. This is used to determine the change in refractive index of the waveguide needed to simulate the mode propagation and profile in the device. Fabrication processes involved in proton exchange waveguide formation are outlined, and measurements for working devices are presented. Best case loss for current devices are 0.5 dB/cm. These samples exhibit smooth surfaces with only ±60A in variation of surface uniformity. Concluding remarks present ideas to further the work by lowering propagation losses, improving mode matching to single mode fiber, and improving the consistency of fabrication conditions.

In this thesis, the characteristics and the applications of Kerr-like nonlinear optical waveguide structures have been studied. The nonlinear optical waveguide is a medium whose refractive index changes with the electric field intensity. In the characteristics of Kerr-like nonlinear optical waveguide structures, we propose a general method for analyzing the three-layer optical waveguide structure with all nonlinear layers by using modal theory. Based on this method, the analysis of transforming arbitrary nonlinear layer into linear layer can be achieved easily by modifying nonlinear coefficient. All kinds of the transverse electric field distributions and the dispersion relation in the three-layer Kerr-like nonlinear optical waveguide structure have been obtained. In the application of Kerr-like nonlinear optical waveguide structures, the Mach-Zehnder waveguide interferometer structure will be discussed. Based on the asymmetric medium and asymmetric construction, the new all-optical router switching device and dense wavelength division multiplexing device have been proposed. The numerical results show that the proposed structures could function as all-optical switch devices and all-optical dense wavelength division multiplexing device.

The goal of the thesis is to fabricate the integrated asymmetric Mach-Zehnder Interferometer and Optical waveguide Ring Resonator with simple fabrication process. A 1.49

In this paper,we used Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method to Analyze CPW and Antenna.In CPW ,we had to process excitiation source and ABC.Or we couldn`t get correct result.In antenna analysis,we used KSIR to calculate antenna pattern.

Abstract¡G Scalar coupled mode theory predicts that the output powers at two nonlaunch fibers are identical for the equilateral 3x3 fiber couplers due to the geometrical symmetry, but several experimental results demonstrate that they are not equal. In this work, a power coupling model with considering the polarization property of input power is proposed for the equilateral 3x3 fiber couplers. Consistent with the measurement results, the model shows that when a polarized light is launched into one of the three fibers the output powers at the other two nonlaunch fibers are unequal.