Dual-functional Polymeric Waveguide with Optical Amplification and Electro-optic Modulation

Abstract

Dichromated gelatin (DCG) has been used widely as a volume hologram emulsion for many years. A myriad of optical elements has been demonstrated using this polymeric material.1-6 In order to realize a monolithically-integrated polymer-based optical circuit, active devices such as waveguide modulators, switches, amplifiers, and lasers are needed. In this paper we report a dual-functional polymeric waveguide using the same host polymeric material for dichromated gelatin, aimed at providing not only holographic optical elements but also amplification and electro-optic (EO) switching. The host material photo-lime gelatin is co-doped with neodymium chloride hexahydrate (NdCl3·6H2O) and chlorophenol red (C19H12Cl2O5S). Neodymium chloride hexahydrate is doped to provide Nd+3 ions for optical amplification, and chlorophenol red to provide electro-optic modulation.