Abstract

The ability to induce a χ⁽²⁾ – via thermal poling – in glasses has opened up the possibility for exploring all optical integrated waveguide devices in which a waveguide laser or amplifier is combined with a nonlinear optical element. For the purpose of lasing or amplification glass substrates that can incorporate large amounts of rare-earth ions are favorable. Hence we have chosen phosphate glasses as the host material integrated waveguide devices. While thermal poling studies of the induced χ ⁽²⁾ have been widely reported for silica glasses, there is little known for phosphate glasses. Furthermore, because the microscopic mechanism of the induced χ⁽²⁾ has still not been completely understood, it would be premature to assume that a χ⁽²⁾ could be induced in phosphate glasses; or that the induced χ⁽²⁾ would be the same as in the case of silica glasses. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the induced χ⁽²⁾ via thermal poling in phosphate glasses is necessary.

© 2003 Optical Society of America