Abstract

Polymer systems show great promise as materials for integrated optics. One important type of system is the guest/host system where the active layer is a polymeric matrix holding an active ingredient in solid solution. Methods previously developed for producing strip guides usually involve complex processing such as dry etching, which can also chemically or physically damage the active component. We have investigated several methods for creating waveguides by loading with a thin strip of high-index material. The advantage of using this technique is that little of the guided optical power travels in the loading layer and hence the final waveguide has a high tolerance of imperfections in that layer, such as optical loss or geometrical variations. Thus low-loss waveguides can result from simple processing techniques. Simultaneously a high proportion of the light (70%–80%) is confined in the active layer, increasing its effectiveness.

© 1991 Optical Society of America