Photo-induced refractive index change of amorphous tin-doped As2S8 films and its application to strip waveguide fabrication.

The amorphous chalcogenide glass Sn₁As₂₀S₇₉ is demonstrated to undergo permanent changes in refractive index on irradiation with ultraviolet light. The refractive properties of this material and the effect of annealing at temperatures below the glass transition temperature are investigated in detail. An Sn₁As₂₀S₇₉ strip waveguide is fabricated using this photoinduced refractive index change, and the device is shown to function as expected with good propagation characteristics for the 632.8 nm guided mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]