Waveguide formation by He+ and H+ ion implantation in filter glass containing nanoparticles

He+ and H+ ions at different energies and doses were used to make optical waveguides in a variety of Schott filter glasses, namely GG400, GG495 and OG550, which have semiconductor nanoparticles embedded in the glass network. From the dark mode measurements refractive index profiles showed that there is refractive index increase in the electronic stopping region and decrease at the end of ion tracks due to nuclear damage, Samples gave one to three sharp modes that are well confined, together with up to 10 leaky or unconfined modes. Ion doses as low as 10(14) ions/cm(2) can be used for making waveguides in these glasses. There is a maximum refractive index increase with dose which depends on the glass used. There were dose dependent changes in the width of the guides for I-Ie implanted samples, but for not for H implants. Furnace annealing to some hundreds of degrees (similar to 300 degrees C) decreased the loss values of these waveguides. It also lowered the optical barrier and after high temperature annealing (> 400 degrees C) guiding features were destroyed.