Gibson, Brant C.Huntington, Shane TLove, John D.2016-05-192016-05-190146-9592http://hdl.handle.net/1885/101450An innovative self-aligning technique for the pigtailing of optical fibers to buried channel planar waveguides is presented, based on selective etching. This technique utilizes a plug-and-socket mechanism that is intrinsically self-aligning and mechanically stable. The processes involved have been specifically designed to facilitate the bulk manufacture of pigtailed single or multiple fibers and waveguides. An optimized alignment geometry for the physical connection of fibers to waveguides is presented.Financial support from the Australian Research Council is acknowledged.© 2005 Optical Society of AmericaKeywords: Electric connectors; Etching; Optical waveguides; Optimization; Channel planar wave; Plug-and-socket mechanism; Selective etching; Self-aligning method; Optical fibers200510.1364/OL.30.0028582016-06-14