Ion-exchanged glass waveguides: a review

Passive glass waveguides made by ion-exchange technique are potential candidates for integrated optics (IO) applications. The authors review the advantages in the technology as applied to fabrication of useful single-mode structures. Progress in process, fabrication, modeling, and waveguide performance using different monovalent cation systems and glass compositions is described with emphasis on fiber-compatible single-mode structures prepared from molten baths. It is shown how a systematic study allows a correlation between the process parameters and the waveguide characteristics so desirable in assuring reproducible characteristics of the devices.< >