The properties and development of low-loss (<1 dB/cm) graded-index (GRIN) polymer microstructure waveguides (PMSWs) on various substrates, including semiconductors, conductors, insulators, and Ceramics, are described. PMSW films can now be produced, uniformly, over substrate areas exceeding 400 cm². The polymer materials exhibit wide transmission bandwidths (0.3 to 2.7 μm) and thermal stability characteristics over a large dynamic temperature range ( —100°C to +180°C). Local sensitization techniques have been applied to PMSW films to produce planar, single and multiplexed, holographic gratings. Wavelength division demultiplexing devices and single-wavelength 1-to-N fanout optical interconnects have also been realized. The polymer technology reported is well suited for optical interconnection, signal processing, communication, and sensing applications.

Date Published: 1 May 1991
PDF: 7 pages
Opt. Eng. 30(5) doi: 10.1117/12.55845
Published in: Optical Engineering Volume 30, Issue 5