UV laser photofabrication of waveguide couplers using self-patterning organic-inorganic hybrids

Planar waveguides with controlled refractive index were produced using thin films of sol-gel derived organic inorganic hybrids, so called di-ureasils. Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to characterize the films thickness and refractive index. UV-laser direct-writing method was used to produce Y-splitter structures with coupling ratio of 50 % without the need of photoinitiators. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2304-2307, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.2625