3D Photonic Waveguides: High‐Resolution 3D Printed Photonic Waveguide Devices (Advanced Optical Materials 18/2020)

High-resolution, 3D printed photonic waveguide devices are fabricated using two-photon polymerization laser lithography (see article number 2000613 by Dawn T. H. Tan and co-workers). Suspended waveguides with arc supports and 3D spiral waveguides are demonstrated for light guiding in three dimensions. Air-bridge waveguide couplers with a coupling loss of 1.6 dB facilitate coupling with fibers. The fabricated waveguides are demonstrated for error-free transmission of 30 Gb s−1 nonreturn to zero (NRZ) and 56 Gb s−1 pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) high-speed data. The results highlight interesting new capabilities enabled by 3D laser lithography that transcend the limitations of conventional lithography.