Georgia Tech team develops smaller, more robust photonic bends

Georgia Tech researchers have demonstrated a new way to create very compact optical waveguide bends—down to a 2.3-micron radius—while keeping signal loss low and making manufacturing more reliable. Their method focuses on improving the bend shape to reduce signal loss and better handle real-world manufacturing quirks, all within existing semiconductor factory rules.

• Bend radius reduced to 2.3 microns
• Low signal loss achieved in tests
• Design tolerates typical manufacturing flaws
• Process works with today's factory rules