Rigorous beam propagation analysis of tapered spot-size converters in deep-etched semiconductor waveguides

A rigorous study of a tapered spot-size converter in a deep-etched GaAs/AlGaAs optical modulator is reported through the use of full vectorial approaches. Mode beating in the tapered section, the expansion of the spot-size, and the consequent enhancement of the coupling to an optical fiber are also reported. © 2003 IEEE.