Planar waveguides prepared by K+-Na+ field-assisted ion exchange in different types of silicate glass

The goal of this work was to address the technological problems associated with waveguide preparation by thermal- and electric-field-assisted K+-Na+ i on exchange in two types of soda-lime glass: common FTD and special pure GI L49. The number of modes, depth, profile, and the change in refractive inde x were measured for waveguides prepared at temperatures between 250 and 410 degrees C and electric-field values between 0 and 50 V/mm. Although the in fluence of some admixture content inside the glass was relatively high, all of these parameters were controlled accurately and repeatedly by the elect ric field.