Propagation loss of optical waveguides prepared by cupper-alkali ion-exchange method

Abstract

Copper-Alkali ion-exchange was carried out using copper stain for sodalime silicate and borosilicate glasses. The ion-exchanged glasses were colorless with optical quality indicating that monovalent copper ions were selectively incorporated. Light propagation was observed for the ion-exchanged region with prism coupler method. The optical propagation loss was estimated by measuring the change of the scattered light intensity from the glass surface. The relationship between the ion-exchanged condition and the propagation loss was discussed.