LOW-MASS ION IRRADIATION OF GLASS WAVE-GUIDES FOR CU QUANTUM-DOTS FORMATION

Low-mass ion irradiation of copper-doped glass waveguides prepared by ion-exchange is proposed as a suitable method for obtaining high-conce ntration colloidal composites. They exhibit high optical third-order n onlinearity, with applications in all-optical switching device technol ogy. The set of effective indices of the waveguides are determined by m-line spectroscopy. The optical absorption features of the copper-dop ed glasses are investigated before and after ion irradiation, related to the presence of different copper oxidation states, The formation an d the size distribution of clusters is investigated by transmission el ectron microscopy. The intensity-dependent refractive index of the col loidal composites is measured by means of the Z-scan technique.