Polymer-based passive and active guided-wave devices and their applications

Ray T. Chen

doi:10.1117/12.141406

28 January 1993 Polymer-based passive and active guided-wave devices and their applications

Ray T. Chen

Proceedings Volume 10267, Integrated Optics and Optoelectronics: A Critical Review; 1026703 (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.141406
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

Due to the material property restrictions of LiNb0₃ and III-V compound material systems a sizable portion of the research work on guided wave devices has been shifted to polymer-based materials. Low material dispersion, flexible material preparation process, unlimited device size and cost effectiveness are the major factors that can not be provided using conventional inorganic materials. By definition, polymer matrix is formed by linking an array of monomers. Therefore, there are infinite number of polymeric materials can be generated. The Polymeric materials suitable for guided wave device research are the ones with desired optical and electrooptic properties.

In this paper, we report the research status of the photolime gel superpolymer. In contrast to any artificial polymer that are synthesized according to a predesigned formula, the polymer we employed is a class of biopolymer which consists of thousands of 1 to 2 nmlong amino acids. A myriad of passive and active guided wave devices has been successfully fabricated using the photolime gel polymer. These include high density linear and curved channel waveguide arrays, electrooptic modulator and modulator array, highly multiplexed waveguide holograms for wavelength division demultiplexing and optical interconnects, waveguide lens, and rare earth ion doped polymer waveguide amplifier. A single-mode linear channel waveguide array with device packaging density of 1250 channels/cm is achieved. The first 12-channel wavelength division demultiplexer working at 830, 840, 850, 860, 870, 880, 890, 900, 910, 920, 930, and 940nm on a GaAs substrate is also described in this paper. A polymer-based electrooptic traveling wave modulator with 40 GHz electrical bandwidth is further delineated. A rare earth ion doped polymer waveguide amplifier working at 1.06pm with 8.5dB optical gain is also achieved using this polymer matrix.

The tunability of the waveguide refractive index allows the formation of a graded index (GRIN) layer. As a result, these active and passive guided wave devices can be realized on any substrate of interest. High quality waveguide (loss<0.1dB/cm) has been made on Glass, LiNb0₃, Fused Silica, Quartz, PC board, GaAs, Si, Al, Cu, Cr, Au, Kovar, BeO, AI₂O₃ and AIN.

Citation Download Citation

Ray T. Chen "Polymer-based passive and active guided-wave devices and their applications", Proc. SPIE 10267, Integrated Optics and Optoelectronics: A Critical Review, 1026703 (28 January 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.141406

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