PROSPECTS OF NEW PLANAR OPTICAL WAVE-GUIDES BASED ON EUTECTIC MICROCOMPOSITES OF INSULATING CRYSTALS - THE ZRO2(C)-CAZRO3 ERBIUM-DOPED SYSTEM

A new approach to produce structured optical materials is described. T he method relies on the capability of growing eutectic crystals of wid e optical band gap materials by directional solidification procedures. The laser float zone technique was used to produce ordered arrays of alternate lamellae with thickness of the order of microns of erbium do ped CaZrO3 and calcia stabilized zirconia single crystals. The later, having a higher refractive index, exhibited planar waveguiding effects as it has been proved experimentally. The possibility of producing wa veguides from eutectic crystals promises the fabrication of hundreds o f planar waveguides integrated into a crystal grown at a speed of seve ral tenths of cm/h. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-695 1(97)03445-1].