Packaging of large-scale integrated-optic N*N star couplers

Integrated-optic 64*64 and 144*144 star couplers have been rigidly connected to single-mode fiber pigtails and packaged in bookshelf-type units. The 64*64 and 144*144 star coupler modules exhibit average insertion losses of 21.7 and 26.6 dB, respectively, at 1.55 mu m and wavelength insensitive operation over the wide spectral range of 1.3-1.6 mu m.<<ETX>>