Configurations for an optical system used for guiding light and reducing back-reflection back in an output waveguide is disclosed. The optical system may include an output waveguide defined in a slab waveguide. The output waveguide may terminate before an output side of the slab waveguide, which may reduce the back-reflection of light from the output side back into the output waveguide. The output side may define an optical element that may steer the output light. The optical element may collimate the output light, cause the output light to converge, or cause the output light to diverge.