Model based alignment of optical waveguides

One of the greatest costs in the manufacture of photonics devices is the alignment and attachment of fibres in the packaging process. Single mode devices require active alignment techniques to meet the required alignment tolerances and overcome unknown variations in fibre geometry. Industry standard techniques are based on hill-climbing algorithms, which are simple to implement, but do not ensure that the global optimum is found or prevent collisions between waveguides. In this paper a model-based alignment algorithm is described. By making use of the known properties of Gaussian beams, rapid, collision free, optical alignment can be achieved via non-linear parameter estimation.