MANAGING MONOLITHIC INTEGRATION OF WAVEGUIDES

An article comprises: one or more sets of lower index contrast layers, each comprising at least two materials having different indices of refraction, and configured to provide optical confinement based at least in part on a first numerical difference between the two indices of refraction; and one or more sets of higher index contrast layers, each comprising at least two materials having different indices of refraction, and configured to provide optical confinement based at least in part on a second numerical difference; and at least one optical coupler configured to optically couple a first of the one or more sets of lower index contrast layers to a first of the one or more sets of higher index contrast layers. The first numerical difference is smaller than the second numerical difference.