OPTICAL LOSS STUDY OF MPEOU-BASED POLYCERAM PLANAR WAVE-GUIDES

Sol-gel-derived polyceram materials based on organically modified sili con and titanium alkoxides have been synthesized in planar waveguide f orms. They exhibit optical losses as low as < 0.25 dB/cm and refractiv e indices as high as 1.685, coupled with exceptional ease of processin g. The optical properties of the films (index of refraction, loss, and dispersion) are studied as functions of processing and composition, a nd the influence of chemistry on volume homogeneities and surface roug hness of the films is investigated.