Silica-based PLC splitters which satisfy reliability requirements for more than 5000 hours

Optical splitters are essential for the construction of optical networks such as fiber-to-the home systems. These devices should exhibit not only good optical characteristics such as low loss and polarization insensitivity but also long-term reliability. Silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) on Si can form one of the most suitable Y-branching splitters because they have the advantages of low loss, low coupling loss to optical fibers and high reproducibility[l]. When PLC splitters are used in practice, the input and output fibers must be connected to waveguides. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a precise connection technique and confirm its long-term stability. However, neither the connection performance of splitters with up to 32 ports nor the long-term reliability of fiber-connected splitters have yet been evaluated in detail. Here, we describe the connection performance and reliability of 1×8 and 1×32 splitter modules. We have chosen strict Bellcore requirements [2] as the first step in evaluation of the PLC splitter reliability. The requirements are recognized as a standard for reliability tests on optical devices, and define the optical criteria as well as the test conditions.