Photosensitivity in planar waveguides

Abstract

Silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) are promising as practical optical circuits with excellent levels of performance [1]. Four generations of PLCs, including the Mach-Zehnder interferometer and arrayed-waveguide grating configurations, have been developed using GeO2-SiO2 waveguides with low propagation and fiber-connection losses fabricated on silicon substrates [2]. The PLCs have been used in feasibility experiments on advanced optical communication systems, such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, optical switching systems, and optical access networks. In addition to the family of PLCs, Er3+-doped P2O5-SiC2 waveguides have been fabricated in order to achieve optical amplification in PLC devices [3].