Simulation and fabrication of 3D printed optical planar multimode 1x2Y splitters

Abstract

This paper reports about design and simulation of planar optical multimodal splitters in combination with plastic optical fibers for the visible spectrum. These devices consisted of Veroclear RGD810 core and Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS substrate/cladding. The splitters were simulated by the beam propagation method using RSoft software and by using a ray tracing method used OptiCAD software. The simulations were done for the width of waveguide core 750 µm. The core was manufactured by 3D printer Stratasys Objet 30 Pro. Estimation of total excess loss was discussed using waveguide loss theory. Material constants were measured. Both - extrinsic and intrinsic factors were defined and used for this estimation. And the final model is presented. The values of optical insertion loss were simulated at 650 nm and compared to values measured.