PRODUCTION OF INTEGRATED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES WITH SOLVENT EXTRACTION

摘要

A single homogenous body of material (for example, a polymer or a sol-gel) is treated so that an internal integral guiding core is formed within the material. This avoids the problems associated with the prior multi-layer approach. Supercritical fluid extraction (SCF) is used to remove refractive index modifier from a top part of a densified core to leave a top integral cladding. A bottom integral cladding is achieved by control of actinic radiation exposure to prevent densification to the full depth.