Diffusion process applied in fabrication of ion-exchanged optical waveguides in novel Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+-doped silicate glasses

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 20; no. Suppl 1; pp. 510 - 513
• Main Authors: Svecova, B., Spirkova, J., Janakova, S., Mika, M., Oswald, J., Mackova, A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: All optical circuits; Applied sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Circuit properties; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Diffusion; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Glasses (including metallic glasses); Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Photoluminescence; Physics; Scanning electron microscopy; Specific materials; Optical Waveguide; Er2O3; Rutherford Backscatter Spectroscopy; Glass Matrix; Erbium; Integrated optics; Scanning electron microscopy; RBS; Photoluminescence; Glass; Doped materials; All optical circuit; Waveguide; Waveguide laser; Rutherford backscattering; Planar waveguide; Manufacturing process; Diffusion process; Erbium addition; Optical amplifier; Chemical composition; Optical waveguide; Diffusion coefficient; Ion exchange; Amplifier laser
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-008-9702-5

Planar optical waveguides fabricated in erbium doped glasses are promising photonics components operating at 1.5 μm, above all as optical amplifiers or waveguide lasers. In this study we focused on the influence of chemical compositions of Er 3+ and Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -doped silicate glasses on the properties important for the sought applications, i.e., waveguiding and spectroscopic properties of the fabricated waveguides. Optical waveguides were fabricated by routine K +  ↔ Na + ion exchange in a set of the glasses that had various contents of the RE ions. Waveguiding properties were studied by means of Dark Mode Spectroscopy at 671 nm while the chemical composition of the waveguides was determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDAX). Surface concentrations of the lasing RE ions were determined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) and related to the resultant photoluminescence properties. On the bases of the obtained experimental results the relations between composition of the substrates, especially content of the active ions, and experimental procedures will be presented with regards to real fabrication processes. Diffusion processes will be characterized by diffusion coefficients.