Channel optical waveguides in various silicate glasses—optimalization of their parameters

Abstract

Channel optical waveguides were fabricated in silicate glasses of various types, i.e. soda–lime, boro-silicate and, especially, in the newly designed ZnO–SiO₂ glasses containing Er₂O₃ and Yb₂O₃ via Ag⁺⇔Na⁺ and K⁺⇔Na⁺ ion exchanges. Optimalization of the fabrication conditions (ion exchange, post-exchange annealing) in the particular glasses was done in order to obtain channel waveguides whose parameters would resemble those of the commonly used optical fibres (single-mode at 1550 nm) so that the channel waveguide-fibre coupling of high efficiency would be provided. Attention was paid to the shape of optical field of these waveguides characterized by Near Field Imaging Method at 1500–1640 nm.