Bunsen Fan

Polymeric Optical Waveguides

The present work describes the characterization of internally developed epoxy ridge optical waveguides which exhibit low propagation loss (0.3 dB/cm at 1.3 μm), high environmental stability (low sensitivity to moisture), have smooth walls (100 nm sidewall roughness), and high temperature stability (275°C). The techniques used to fabricate these waveguides are compatible with the planar processes used in the manufacture of high performance electronic packages.

Propagation properties in short lengths of rectangular epoxy waveguides

The propagation loss and beam spreading in large-core epoxy ridge waveguides on a glass substrate at wavelengths ranging from 630 to 1550 nm have been measured. At the intermediate wavelengths, a loss floor of 1.2 dB/cm is observed which is caused by inclusions and wall imperfections. The theoretical and experimentally determined equilibrium numerical aperture is 0.65 and 0.29 and the modal dispersion is 5.1 and 1.0 ps/cm, respectively. The discrepancy is due to strong scattering. The scattering does not give rise to any noticeable mode mixing. The epoxy waveguides also provide a rapid filling of the modes which is attractive for modal noise suppression.<<ETX>>

Laser microfabrication of optical circuits in LiNbO3

Optical waveguides have been fabricated in x‐cut LiNbO3 by direct laser patterning of ‘‘spin‐on’’ organometallic inks. The technique has been used to repeatedly and rapidly produce single‐ and multimode waveguide structures, such as lines, y branches, and couplers. In addition, an entirely laser‐delineated Mach–Zehnder interferometric modulator has been fabricated.