Optical waveguides and methods for making same

摘要

An optical waveguide made from a unitary organic film has a polydiacetylene core region and a diacetylene monomer cladding substrate region. The index of refraction of the polydiacetylene core region is greater than the index of refraction of the diacetylene monomer cladding substrate region. The method of fabricating the optical waveguide comprises depositing a diacetylene monomer film on a substrate. The diacetylene monomer film is polymerized by ion beam bombardment to a depth less than the thickness of the film. The depth of the polymerization is controlled by the ion mass and energy of the ion beam applied.