Method for producing photoinduced bragg gratings by irradiating a hydrogenated glass body in a heated state
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorsPaul J. Lemaire, William A. Reed, Ashish M. Vengsarkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with the invention, the index of refraction of a region of a glass body is selectively increased by treating the material with hydrogen and then simultaneously applying heat and actinic radiation to the region. Preferably the body is heated to a temperature in excess of 150.degree. C. and the heat and radiation are simultaneously applied. The result is a substantial and long-lived increase in excess of 5.times.10.sup.-5 in the refractive index of the irradiated region. This process can be used to make and adjust a variety of optical waveguide devices such as photoinduced Bragg gratings.
Claims9
A method for increasing the index of refraction of selected portions of a glass body comprising the steps of:
- providing a body comprising glass;
- diffusing hydrogen or deuterium into at least said selected portions of said glass body;
- heating at least said selected portions to a temperature in excess of 150.degree. C. and, while maintaining the temperature of at least the selected portions in excess of 150.degree. C. exposing said selected portions to ultraviolet radiation to increase the index of refraction by at least 5.times.10.sup.-5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.