An integrated circuit is provided with a photonic device and a spot-size
converter waveguide device integrated on a common substrate. The
spot-size converter waveguide device provides for transformation between
a larger spot-size and a smaller spot-size corresponding to the photonic
device. The spot-size converter waveguide device includes at least one of
a bottom mirror and top mirror, which provide highly-reflective lower and
upper cladding, respectively, for vertical confinement of light
propagating through the waveguide device. The top mirror overlies
opposing sidewalls of the spot-converter waveguide device, which provide
highly-reflective sidewall cladding for lateral confinement of light
propagating through the waveguide device. Advantageously, the
highly-reflective lower cladding provided by the bottom mirror limits
optical loss of the waveguide device. Similarly, the highly-reflective
upper cladding and sidewall cladding provided by the top mirror limits
optical loss of the waveguide device.