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Rapid Prototyping of Low‐Loss IR Chalcogenide‐Glass Waveguides by Controlled Remelting
Author(s) -
Rowlands Christopher J.,
Su Lei,
Elliott Stephen R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201000044
Subject(s) - chalcogenide glass , fabrication , chalcogenide , materials science , annealing (glass) , refractive index , planar , waveguide , optoelectronics , photoresist , photosensitivity , optics , infrared , high refractive index polymer , nanotechnology , composite material , medicine , alternative medicine , computer graphics (images) , physics , pathology , layer (electronics) , computer science
A method for fabricating infrared‐transmitting waveguides that yields low optical losses and strong confinement of light is presented. The method minimises the number of fabrication steps by exploiting the photosensitivity of arsenic trisulfide glass, using it both as a photoresist and as a waveguiding material. Controlled annealing/remelting of the waveguides minimises scattering due to fluctuations in refractive index at the interface between the waveguide and the surrounding medium, allowing low losses to be realised. Bends and Y‐splitter structures have been realised, as well as the longest As 2 S 3 serpentine planar waveguides yet reported.