title: Planar waveguides formed by Ag+-Na+ ion exchange in nonlinear optical glasses: diffusion and optical properties.
abstract: All-optical communication systems are the subject of intense research related to the integration of nonlinear optical materials. In sodiocalcic borophosphate glasses that contain niobium oxide and exhibit high nonlinear optical indices, planar waveguides have been formed by a Ag(+)-Na(+) ion-exchange technique. WKB analysis has been used to characterize the diffusion profiles of silver ions exchanged in glass substrate samples chemically by an electron microprobe technique and optically by an M-line technique. These methods permit the Ag(+) penetration depth and diffusion profile shape and index profiles to be determined. The results are analyzed and discussed in relation to Ca(2+) concentration and exchange conditions in glasses. The Ag(+) diffusion in these glasses can be almost entirely controlled for index-profile engineering.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Physique MoléculaireOptique et Hertzienne, Unité de Recherche Associée 283, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bordeaux I, 351 Cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence Cedex, France
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Videau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adamietz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Flem