Intel's silicon photonics couplers hit 1-1.5 dB IL, with visible epoxy delamination flaws

jwt0625 · x · 2026-09-12

The author reviews Intel group's multi-year iterations on optical couplers/connectors, noting epoxy delamination and imperfect coverage in the pictured sample—likely due to fear of index-matching epoxy contaminating the TIR surface. Measured insertion loss is 1-1.5 dB. A follow-up points to a passively aligned glass micro-optic bridge approach (Psaila2024, expanded-beam vertical coupling with pluggable silicon photonics) achieving 1 dB IL at 95% yield, suggesting roughly 2x more headroom for photonic interposers.

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