Abstract

Planar optical waveguides consisting of thin dielectric films with metal cladding have been investigated theoretically and experimentally. A computer program was devised to provide the phase and attenuation constants and wavefunctions for TE and TM modes in symmetric and asymmetric guides. Approximate expressions suitable for slide-rule calculation were also derived. Numerical results and illustrations are given for films of photoresist with Al, Ag, and Au cladding. Direct measurements of the attenuation and phase constants at 0.633 μm of numerous experimental waveguides are in reasonable agreement with theory. Attenuations <1 dB/cm, which is sufficiently small for application in devices, were measured. Calculated wavefunctions illustrate the mismatch of modes at transitions between unclad and metal-clad waveguides. Experimentally, we find substantial losses at such abrupt junctions. They can be overcome by simple tapered transitions.

© 1974 Optical Society of America

Metal-clad planar dielectric waveguide for integrated optics*

John N. Polky and Gordon L. Mitchell
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 64(3) 274-279 (1974)

Positive-permittivity-metal cladding: its effect on the modes of dielectric optical waveguides

S. C. Rashleigh
Appl. Opt. 15(11) 2804-2811 (1976)

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Long-range surface modes of metal-clad four-layer waveguides

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Metal-clad multilayer dielectric waveguide: accurate perturbation analysis

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