Integrated optics based on organo-mineral materials

New technologies based on organic-inorganic materials are shown to be very flexible, while they present interesting performance. The process needs only four steps, and the local refractive index change necessary to guide the light may be imprinted with a simple UV exposure. Several solutions are given to design basic structure of guides and hence to make optical circuits which cover the domain of power splitters to wavelength division multiplexers, including directional couplers. gratings, etc. Optical amplification is also shown to be possible, and the connection problem is tackled. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.