Propagation characteristics of a partially metal-clad optical guide: metal-clad optical strip line.

Experimental investigations of the partially metal-clad optical guide were performed. The optical guide consisted of a silicon substrate, an SiO(2) low index dielectric layer, an Al(2)O(3) high index dielectric layer, and a partial cladding layer of Al. The far-field patterns of the output beam from the second prism coupler were consistent with the calculated transverse field distributions using the effective index-of-refraction method. The experimental results on the coupling angles, confinement at the curved section, and attenuation constants are also reported.