PHOTOSENSITIVE OPTICAL GLASS

摘要

An optical device includes a planar waveguide having a core region at least partially surrounded by a cladding, wherein the waveguide includes of a photosensitive germanium-doped silicon oxynitride (Ge:SiON) or germanium-doped silicon nitride (Ge:SiN). An optical device is formed by providing a photosensitive layer comprised of Ge:SiON or Ge:SiN and selectively irradiating the photosensitive layer at a wavelength of light to which the photosensitive material is sensitive, such that an optical feature having a refractive index different than that of the non­irradiated photosensitive layer is formed. Coupling or decoupling a plurality of optical devices having an optical device layer including two or more optical devices and a photosensitive coupling layer in optical communication with the optical device layer includes selectively irradiating the coupling layer to alter the refractive index in a portion of the layer such that light is directionally coupled or decoupled between the two or more optical devices through the irradiated portion of the coupling layer.