Method of forming novel curved-line gratings and their use as reflectors and resonators in integrated optics.

Gratings have been used as Bragg reflectors in integrated optics for a variety of the applications. We report here a method of forming novel curved-line gratings and analyze their use for imaging in optical circuits and as the resonators in diode lasers.

Integrated Optics: a Report on the 2nd OSA Topical Meeting.

This report surveys the papers presented at the 2nd OSA Topical Meeting on Integrated Optics, which was held 21-24 January 1974 in New Orleans, La.

Formation of light-guiding interconnections in an integrated optical circuit by composite tapered-film coupling.

We demonstrate a new and simple method of forming light-guiding interconnections in an integrated optical circuit. This involves bridging the devices with a thin film having tapered ends that form naturally during the deposition process. Experiments show that there is no specific requirement for the thickness, refractive index, or relative position of the bridging film. A theory of composite waveguides provides an understanding of these interconnections.

Thin organosilicon films for integrated optics.

The continued development of integrated optics is heavily dependent upon the availability of materials that are suitable for the construction of thin-film optical circuitry and devices. We report here an investigation of new films made by an rf discharge polymerization process of organic chemical monomers. We concentrate our discussion on films prepared from vinyltrimethylsilane and hexamethyldisilbxane. These films are smooth, tough, pinhole-free, transparent from 0.4 microm to 0.75 microm, and exhibit very low loss (<0.04 dB/cm) for light-wave propagation. More importantly, experiments demonstrate the possibility of controlling the refractive index of the films either by the mixing of the two monomers before deposition or by chemical treatment after the film is deposited. The use of the prism-film coupler for studying the refractive index of each material is discussed in detail.

Integrated Optics and Guided Waves-a Report of the Topical Meeting.

A report of the first Topical Meeting on Integrated Optics-Guided Waves, Materials, and Devices has been prepared by four members of the Technical Program Committee. The meeting was held 7-10 February 1972 and was sponsored by the Lasers Technical Group of the Optical Society of America, the International Commission for Optics, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.

Optical propagation in sheet and pattern generated films of ta(2)o(5).

Attention is drawn to the properties of Ta(2)O(5) film which make it attractive as a new dielectric medium for use in integrated optical circuitry. The Ta(2)O(5) film discussed was formed by thermally oxidizing sputtered , beta-tantalum films in an oxygen atmosphere. Measurements showed that these films will support propagation of coherent red (6328-A.) light with a loss of 0.9 dB cm(-1) and coherent blue (4880-A) light with a somewhat higher loss of 4.1 dB cm(-1). From measurements of the coupling angle at which propagation of the various modes takes place, refractive indices for the TE and TM modes at 6328 A, 5145 A, and 4880 A were obtained. The loss mechanisms are discussed, and it is shown that most of the loss is due to scattering during the internal reflections at the air-oxide and oxide-substrate film surfaces. A small fraction of the loss appears to occur in the interior of the film. With Ta(2)O(5) it is demonstrated for the first time that optical circuit components can be formed for use in integrated optics by employing existing thin-film technology. The basic process steps include the pattern generation of the beta-Ta followed by thermal oxidation of the pattern. Experimental studies of propagation in straight and curved waveguides are described. It was found that the losses in pattern generated waveguides are of the order of 5 dB cm(-1) to 7 dB cm(-1), with the excess loss due to scattering from the waveguide edges. It is concluded that improvements in the smoothness of the boundaries of circuit elements are desirable to reduce transmission losses in pattern generated film.

Light waves in thin films and integrated optics.

Integrated optics is a far-reaching attempt to apply thin-film technology to optical circuits and devices, and, by using methods of integrated circuitry, to achieve a better and more economical optical system. The specific topics discussed here are physics of light waves in thin films, materials and losses involved, methods of couplings light beam into and out of a thin film, and nonlinear interactions in waveguide structures. The purpose of this paper is to review in some detail the important development of this new and fascinating field, and to caution the reader that the technology involved is difficult because of the smallness and perfection demanded by thin-film optical devices.