Micromachined v-grooves and funnels for loading optical fibre arrays

This work describes the desig and fabrication of V-groove structures to house optic fibre arrays with funnel-shaped entrance path to enable damage-free threading. The structures were realised by creating micromachined structures in (100) silicon with anisotropic wet etching in potassium hydroxide. The resurting structures were imaged with scanning electron microscopy and the fibre loading process tested with high yield results, due to the increased horizontal and vertical tolerances reducing abrasions. This work has enabled the parallel imprinting of optic fibre endfaces with polymer nanostructures.