Integrated optic components

Abstract

An integrated optic component comprises a substrate (10) carrying a layer (11) of polymeric material which has an aliphatic or aromatic polymer backbone with bonded sidegroups exhibiting hyperpolarizability. The layer (11) shows a refractive index pattern induced by irradiation with wavelengths within the electronic absorption bands of the sidegroups and within the range of about 230 to 650 nm. The component may be poled so as to be an active component and may be in the form of a ridge guide. Typical sidegroups comprise 4'-amino or 4'-oxy substituted 4-nitrostilbene moieties, or 4'-amino substituted 4-cyanostilbene moieties, or N-substituted 1-(4-aminophenyl)-4-(4-nitrophenyl) buta-1,3-diene moieties.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.