Design and realisation of mono-modal SiOxNy-based polymer waveguides for active functions

A method is described for optimising nonlinear mono-modal channel waveguides such that the guided power influences the propagation constant optimally. These waveguides have been used for a nonlinear MZI and measuring TPA. Experimental results are describe

Simple technique for two-photon absorption measurements in polymeric waveguide channels

A simple technique for two-photon absorption measurements by pulse shape deformation in channel optical waveguides is described. Measurements on a ps time scale are performed. Results are in good agreement with literature value

Design and realisation of a MZI type polymer based high speed EO-modulator

We designed a 20 GHz Mach Zehnder interferometric EO-modulator based on a new developed polyesterimide. Measurements show a V/sub /spl pi// of 7.5 V, an insertion loss of 11 dB and an extinction ratio exceeding 20 dB for an interaction length of 2 cm

Characterization of optical third-order non-linearities by prism coupling and pulse shape analysis on a ps timescale

Materials with an intensity dependent index of refraction and absorption coefficient¿third-order optical non-linear (ONL) effects¿offer the possibility of all-optical signal processing. Prism coupling is a well-known tool to investigate the intensity dependent refractive index, however, such experiments are often obscured by thermal effects. To avoid these we have studied the influence of the ONL effects on the shape of 70 ps pulses in non-linear prism coupling. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the in and out coupled pulses is compared simultaneously with the FWHM of the pulses of a reference beam. By measuring at various angles of incidence around that for optimal coupling it is possible to measure the sign and value of the change in both the refractive index and absorption coefficient. As a function of the coupling angle, the first leads to an asymmetric line shape for the ratio of the two FWHMs mentioned above, whereas the second leads to a symmetric one. From a comparison of simulations with experimental data, the values of the non-linear constants can be derived

Evaluation of polymer based third order nonlinear integrated optics devices

Nonlinear polymers are promising materials for high speed active integrated optics devices. In this paper we evaluate the perspectives polymer based nonlinear optical devices can offer. Special attention is directed to the materials aspects. In our experimental work we applied mainly Akzo Nobel DANS side-chain polymer that exhibits large second and third order coefficients. This material has been characterized by third harmonic generation, z-scan and pump-probe measurements. In addition, various waveguiding structures have been used to measure the nonlinear absorption (two photon absorption) on a ps time-scale. Finally an integrated optics Mach-Zehnder interferometer has been realized and evaluated. It is shown that the DANS side-chain polymer has many of the desired properties: the material is easily processable in high-quality optical waveguiding structures, has low linear absorption and its nonlinearity has a pure electronic origin. More materials research has to be done to arrive at materials with higher nonlinear coefficients to allow switching at moderate light intensity (< 1 W peak power) and also with lower nonlinear absorption coefficients

All-optical integrated optic devices:A hybrid approach

All-optical data processing is highly desirable in optical data-communication networks because of the increasing need of bandwidth and optical transparency. The paper presents an evaluation of integrated optics device concepts, discusses materials requirements and gives experimental results of own work on devices based on silicon technology with hybrid integration of polymers as a nonlinear material