Open AccessPlanar waveguide tilted Bragg grating refractometer fabricated through physical micromachining and direct UV writing
Author(s) -
Christopher Holmes,
Lewis G. Carpenter,
Helen Rogers,
I.J.G. Sparrow,
James C. Gates,
Peter G. R. Smith
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.012462
Subject(s) - optics , materials science , fiber bragg grating , cladding (metalworking) , surface micromachining , grating , planar , refractometer , waveguide , optoelectronics , phosfos , diffraction grating , optical fiber , refractive index , fabrication , fiber optic sensor , plastic optical fiber , wavelength , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , computer graphics (images) , pathology , computer science , metallurgy
A set of rapid prototyping techniques are combined to construct a laterally-tilted Bragg grating refractometer in a novel planar geometry. The tilted Bragg grating is fabricated in a silica-on-silicon planar substrate using a dual beam direct UV writing (DUW) technique. Lateral cladding mode confinement is subsequently achieved by physically micromachining two trenches either side of the direct UV written waveguide. The resulting device is demonstrated as an effective refractometer, displaying a comparable sensitivity to tilted Bragg gratings in a fiber optical geometry, but with the added advantages of planar integration.