Direct mapping of light propagation in photonic crystal waveguides

Using near-field optical microscopy, we directly map the propagation of light in the wavelength range of 1510-1560 nm along bent photonic crystal waveguides formed by removing a single row of holes in the triangular 400-nm-period lattice and connected to access ridge waveguides, the structure being fabricated on silicon-on-insulator wafers. Based on the near-field optical images measured, we determine the bend loss to be below 2 dB in the range of 1510-1530 nm, identify the associated loss channels, and obtain an upper limit of 930 nm for the guided mode width intensity distribution at 1510 nm. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.