Inverse-designed photonic interfaces beyond eigenmode expansion limits
Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) enable optical systems with dramatically increased performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability through enhanced light-matter interactions, high-density integration, and mass production. Due to the significant mode mismatch between various integrated photonic platforms and optical fibers, spot-size conversion interfaces with low-loss, compact footprint, and high manufacturability are essential. Conventional spot-size converters based on intuitive designs often require multi-layer tapering structures and tiny waveguide tips to adiabatically expand the eigenmodes. These rigid design constraints commonly lead to large device footprints and the requirements of multiple high-precision lithography steps. In this paper, we overcome these limitations using inverse design methods, which optimize the coupling efficiency over a large parameter space beyond traditional eigenmode evolution limits. Specifically, we demonstrate efficient and ultra-compact photonic interfaces on the thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform, where the partially etched rib waveguides and non-vertical sidewalls have previously hindered the achievement of low-loss waveguide tapers in single-layer configurations. Our inverse-designed photonic structures achieve simulated and experimentally measured coupling efficiencies as low as 1 dB and 3 dB per facet between TFLN waveguides and lensed/ultra-high numerical aperture (UHNA) fiber, with broad 1-dB bandwidths exceeding 120 nm. The inverse-designed interfaces are highly compatible with standard TFLN PIC components and require only a single high-resolution lithography step. More importantly, the design concept transcends traditional eigenmode evolution theories and is broadly applicable to a variety of material platforms and application scenarios.