US 5,287,427 A · Method of making an article comprising an optical component, and article comprising the component

Abstract

Unexpectedly large normalized refractive index changes (.DELTA.>10.sup.-5, but possibly even larger than 10.sup.-3) can be obtained in oxide glass, e.g., high-silica glass, by a treatment that comprises exposing at least a portion of the glass at a temperature of at most 250.degree. C. to H.sub.2 or D.sub.2 (partial H.sub.2 or D.sub.2 pressure greater than 1 atmosphere), and irradiating at least a part of the exposed portion with actinic (typically UV) radiation. The method can be used to make optical components that comprise a region (or regions) of raised refractive index, e.g., an in-line refractive index grating in an optical waveguide, a planar optical waveguide, or a phase grating.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Method of making an article that comprises an optical component, the method comprising

a) providing a body that comprises oxide glass,
b) contacting at least a portion of the glass with an atmosphere comprising gas selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2 and D.sub.2, said gas to be designated the "sensitizing" gas;
and
c) exposing at least a part of said portion of the glass to actinic radiation such that the refractive index of said exposed part is changed;
wherein
d) step b) comprises contacting the glass at a temperature of at most 250.degree. C., with the atmosphere having a sensitizing gas partial pressure greater than 1 atmosphere, such that irradiation can result in a normalized index change (.DELTA.) of at least 10.sup.-5.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/010,237Filed 28 Jan 1993 · continuation in part

Priority

5 May 1992

Granted

15 Feb 1994

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G02B 6/124
Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths: geodesic lenses or integrated gratings
G02B 6/02114
Refractive index modulation gratings, e.g. Bragg gratings: characterised by enhanced photosensitivity characteristics of the fibre, e.g. hydrogen…
G02B 6/13
Of the integrated circuit kind: integrated optical circuits characterised by the manufacturing method
G02B 2006/12038
Materials: glass

Method of making an article comprising an optical component, and article comprising the component

Life of this patent

Method of making an article comprising an optical component, and article comprising the component

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18