MEMS TUNABLE SILICON PHOTONIC GRATING COUPLER FOR POST-ASSEMBLY OPTIMIZATION OF FIBER-TO-CHIP COUPLING

We experimentally demonstrate the first MEMS tunable photonic fiber-to-waveguide grating coupler, and apply it to electrostatically optimize the light coupling between an optical fiber and an on-chip silicon photonic waveguide. Efficient and stable fiber-to-chip coupling is vital for combining the high optical quality of silica fibers with the integration density of silicon photonics. Our device has the potential to lower assembly cost and extend device lifetime, by enabling electrical post-assembly adjustments.