Compact wide-band integrated optical power splitters

Integrated power splitters with high performances in a very broad spectral region are key components in Passive Optical Networks (PON). In this paper we present the design and experimental characterization of several power splitters with division ratios ranging from 1x8 to 1x32 and using an innovative layout architecture that allows a sensible reduction of the device occupation with a simultaneous improvement in the device performance. The measurements show that all the devices have a uniform response well within specifications and, thanks to the ion exchange in glass substrate fabrication technology, very low insertion losses and Polarization Dependent Losses (PDL).