Pedestal antiresonant reflecting waveguides for robust coupling to microsphere resonators and for microphotonic circuits.

Strip-line pedestal antiresonant reflecting waveguides are high-confinement, silica integrated optical waveguides in which the optical modes are completely isolated from the substrate by thin high-index layers. These waveguides are particularly well suited for whispering-gallery mode excitation in high-Q microspheres. They can also be used in microphotonic circuits, such as for microring resonators. The theory and design of these structures are highlighted. Experiments that show high coupling efficiency to microspheres are also demonstrated.