Sub-dB/cm propagation loss in silver stripe waveguides

We demonstrate sub-dB/cm propagation losses in polymer-based silver stripe waveguides at the wavelength of 1.31 mu m. The silver stripe waveguides were fabricated in a low-loss fluorinated polymer clad. To form uniform metal stripe patterns, which are essential for reducing propagation loss, we developed a lift-off process using double layers of photoresist and SiNx. A propagation loss of less than 1.0 dB/cm was obtained with the 11-nm-thick silver stripes in the width range of 1.5-4.5 mu m. A coupling loss of similar to 1.0 dB with a polarization maintaining single mode fiber was achieved for a width of 4.5 mu m. For a width of 2.0 mu m, we recorded a minimum propagation loss of 0.4 dB/cm, which is comparable with that of dielectric multi-mode waveguides. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America