Fabrication of a polymeric photonic crystal wavelength splitter using ultra violet embossing technology

We present the design concept and the possibility of UV embossing technology for polymeric photonic crystal functional devices. Our design concept for polymeric photonic crystal devices is to utilize quasi self-collimating effect of photonic crystal, showing a light propagation with poor divergence in photonic crystal region, and a wavelength dependence of light propagation direction in this region. It is possible to realize various functional devices with ultra compact size using photonic crystal, even in the polymeric material with low optical index, as it does not use the photonic bandgap directly. The fabricated final replica has almost no residual polymer, since the use of UV curable polymer with low viscosity and an additional ashing process. These design concept and fabrication technique are quite appropriate to be utilized for mass production of economical optical integrated circuits.