ION-EXCHANGED GLASS WAVE-GUIDES - A REVIEW

Passive glass waveguides made by the ion-exchange technique are potential candidates for integrated optics (IO) applications. Advances in the technology as applied to fabrication of useful single-mode structures are reviewed. Progress in the 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.