Characterization of the optical-functional properties of a waveguide written by an UV-laser into a planar polymer chip

The optical-functional properties of an integrated-optical strip-waveguide in a planar polymer chip are presented in this article. The waveguide was directly written into the surface of a planar polymer chip by UV-laser irradiation. The refractive index depth profile of the waveguide was examined by a two-beam-interferometric method. Also the mode field distribution and the loss rate of the waveguiding structure has been characterized. The study shows that the optical-functional properties strongly depend on the UV-irradiation parameters. Several mostly independently occurring photochemical processes competing with one another are proposed to explain the formation and shape of the refractive index distribution. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.