Fiber array fabrication technique for 15-μm-diameter single-mode fibers
Journal
Optical Engineering
Journal Volume
47
Journal Issue
7
Pages
74002
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
We describe a technique to package 15-µm-diam single-mode fibers on a silicon substrate that can be incorporated into an endoscopic probe tip. The single-mode fibers in the array can be used in coherent imaging applications such as optical coherence tomography. Fiber-to-substrate and fiber-to-fiber coupling effects are studied using beam propagation techniques to determine the different design characteristics and the maximum length of the reduced diameter fiber that can be packaged in the probe tip. Single-mode fibers are etched to reduce the cladding diameter from 125 to 15 µm. A 2-µm-thick silica layer is grown in the silicon substrate to minimize the fiber-substrate coupling. Reduced diameter fibers are placed into a 5-mm by 150-µm trench etched in a silicon-silica substrate and fixed with UV curable cement. Active alignment is used to ensure the correct alignment of fibers. The fiber array is experimentally evaluated to test fiber placement accuracy, throughput, and cross talk. Optical coherence tomography images are also obtained with the array.
Type
journal article