Enhancement of photoelastic constant of optical thin film waveguide assisted by surface acoustic wave

In the present research, we proposed a method of controlling the photoelast ic constant using surface acoustic waves, which had not previously been rep orted, and carried out experimental studies thereof. A Bragg diffraction wa s carried out to determine the photoelastic constants of Ta2O5. As a result , it is confirmed that the photoelastic constant of a Ta2O5 thin film under going a sputtering process, during which surface acoustic waves were excite d on the substrate, was about 2.19-2.27 times larger than those of thin fil ms on which surface acoustic waves were not excited. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.