Demonstration of a 3-dB directional coupler with enhanced robustness to gap variations for silicon wire waveguides.

Abstract
We demonstrate a robust 3-dB directional coupler which has a narrow silicon wire core and a wide gap. Sensitivity to the gap variation is decreased to one tenth that of a conventional directional coupler. Better spectral stability due to the enhanced robustness to waveguide geometrical fluctuations was experimentally verified.