Jesse A. Frantz

Measurement of waveguide birefringence using a ring resonator

A simple method for accurately measuring the birefringence of a ring resonator waveguide using its resonant characteristics is presented. A measurement accuracy of 1/spl times/10/sup -6/ is observed. This approach is then used to measure the effect of thermal annealing on the level of birefringence in an ion-exchanged waveguide.

An integrated optic gyroscope using ion-exchanged waveguides

We present a compact, low cost, integrated optic gyroscope fabricated by ion exchange in glass with a shot noise limited rotational sensitivity /spl sim/170 degrees/hr at 1 second integration time.

Measurement and modeling of ion-exchange parameters for IOG-10 glass

Accurate knowledge of the diffusion coefficients of an ion-exchange glass is crucial for the design, simulation, and optimization of optical waveguide structures created in the glass. We present the measurement of the Stewart coefficient, the maximum refractive index, and the diffusion coefficients for Ag + and Na + ions in IOG-10 glass. With knowledge of these glass properties, we can in turn control the optical and physical properties of the waveguides. Temperature dependence of the optical properties is also presented.

Coherent scattering properties of a cationic ring-opening volume holographic recording material

Experimental results demonstrating the coherent scattering properties of a cationic ring-opening photopolymer are presented. The film is exposed continuously with a single beam at a single angle, and the transmission characteristics are measured as a function of exposure. A critical cumulative coherent exposure level is observed. At exposures above this level the presence of noise gratings is observed through a decrease in the transmittance of the photopolymer. The magnitude of the efficiency of these gratings differs depending upon the method used for preconditioning the photopolymer. Noise gratings are also measure in the case of angularly multiplexed exposures, and it is found that if the exposure fluence of each multiplexed recording is reduce to levels consistent with those used for recording data pages in this sensitive recording medium then no measurable noise gratings are formed.

Bend loss effects in diffused, buried waveguides

Bend loss effects can be a significant concern in the design and performance of diffused, buried waveguide devices. Since diffused, buried waveguides typically do not have analytical mode solutions, the bend mode must be expressed as an expansion of straight waveguide modes. For the case of buried ion-exchanged waveguides, the bend loss is affected by bend radius, the duration of the ion exchange and burial processes, as well as the size of the mask opening used to create the waveguides and applied field during burial. The bend loss effects for each of these variables are explored under typical fabrication conditions.

Selectively buried ion-exchanged waveguides as an interface to electro-optic polymers

The fabrication of selectively buried ion-exchanged waveguides in glass is described. The results presented demonstrate that surface sections of the waveguides interact strongly with an electro-optic polymer superstrate.

Waveguide amplifiers in sputtered films of Er/sup 3+/-doped chalcogenide glass

We demonstrate the first chalcogenide glass waveguide amplifiers operating at a wavelength of 1.5 mum. The amplifiers, patterned in films of Er3+-doped gallium lanthanum sulfide glass, exhibit a total internal gain of 6.7 dB (2.8 dB/cm)

Measurement of ion-exchanged waveguide burial depth with a camera

We present a novel method of measuring the depth of a mode for a buried ion-exchanged channel waveguide in glass while si- multaneously measuring its near-field mode profile. The method is simple to implement and can be used without removing the sample from a standard waveguide characterization system. Experimental results for surface and buried Ag 1 /Na 1 exchanged waveguides are presented. It is demonstrated that the depth of a mode can be determined with an un- certainty of 60.2 mm.

Modeling of selectively buried ion-exchanged waveguides using the beam propagation method

The beam propagation method is used to model a selectively buried ion-exchanged waveguide in glass. The results presented demonstrate that the waveguide remains adiabatic throughout its entire length. Theoretical calculations of mode profiles and losses are compared with experimental results.

Probing the liquid crystal alignment interface and switching dynamics in a slab waveguide architecture

A non-mechanical refractive laser beam steering device has been developed to provide continuous, two-dimensional steering of infrared beams. The technology implements a dielectric slab waveguide architecture with a liquid crystal (LC) cladding. With voltage control, the birefringence of the LC can be leveraged to tune the effective index of the waveguide under an electrode. With a clever prism electrode design a beam coupled into the waveguide can be deflected continuously in two dimensions as it is coupled out into free space. The optical interaction with LC in this beamsteerer is unique from typical LC applications: only the thin layer of LC (100s of nm) near the alignment interface interacts with the beam’s evanescent field. Whereas most LC interactions take place over short path lengths (microns) in the bulk of the material, here we can interrogate the behavior of LC near the alignment interface over long path lengths (centimeters). In this work the beamsteerer is leveraged as a tool to study the behavior of LC near the alignment layer in contrast to the bulk material. We find that scattering is substantially decreased near the alignment interface due to the influence of the surface anchoring energy to suppress thermal fluctuations. By tracking the position of the deflected beam with a high speed camera, we measure response times of the LC near the interface in off-to-on switching (~ms) and on-to-off switching (~100ms). Combined, this work will provide a path for improved alignment techniques, greater optical throughput, and faster response times in this unique approach to non-mechanical beamsteering.