INTEGRATED PHOTONICS
The term “integrated photonics” refers to the fabrication and integration of several
photonic components on a common planar substrate. These components include beam
splitters, gratings, couplers, polarisers, interferometers, sources and detectors, among
others. In turn, these can then be used as building blocks to fabricate more complex
planar devices which can perform a wide range of functions with applications in optical
communication systems, CATV, instrumentation and sensors. The setting-up of
integrated photonic technology can be considered as the confluence of several photonic
disciplines (dealing with the control of light by electrons and vice versa) with
waveguide technology. In fact, optical waveguides are the key element of integrated
photonic devices that perform not only guiding, but also coupling, switching, splitting,
multiplexing and demultiplexing of optical signals. In this chapter we will introduce
the main characteristics of integrated photonic technology, showing relevant aspects
concerning material and fabrication technologies. Also, we will briefly describe some
basic components present in integrated photonic devices, emphasising the differences
in their design compared to conventional optics. Some examples of integrated photonic
devices (passive, functional, active and non-linear) are given at the end of the chapter
to show the elegant solution that this technology proposes for the development of
advanced optical devices.
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