Low loss Chalcogenide glass waveguides by thermal nano-imprint lithography

We report the fabrication of low loss rib waveguides from chalcogenide glass films by thermal nano-imprint using a soft stamp. Waveguides 2-4 µm wide and 1 µm high were fabricated with extremely smooth sidewalls and optical losses limited by Rayleigh scattering to values of 0.26 dB/cm for the TM and 0.27 dB/cm for TE polarizations at 1550 nm.The support of the Australian Research Council through its Centres of Excellence program is gratefully acknowledged