title: Photosensitivity of As2S3 chalcogenide thin films at 1.5 microm.
abstract: Chalcogenide glasses are promising candidates for all-optical switching and various nonlinear applications. However, we show that As2S3 thin films are photosensitive at wavelengths in the 1.5-microm telecommunication window. This sensitivity is evidenced by the formation of self-written waveguides in slabs, where channels as narrow as 1 microm are created. We also show the detrimental effects of such photosensitivity in ridge waveguides. This photosensitivity seems to occur only in thin-film form and not in bulk samples or fibers.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Optique Photonique et Laser, Université Laval, Quebec G1K7P4, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hô
authors.forename: Jacques M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Laniel
authors.forename: Réal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vallée
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villeneuve