Hybrid glass substrates for waveguide device manufacture

Hybrid glass substrates were prepared by a novel, low-temperature process j oining active (Er-Yb codoped) and passive phosphate glass. The resulting hy brid substrates are chemically and physically robust; they can be cut, grou nd, and polished by conventional, water-based techniques. The entire substr ate can be immersed in a molten-salt bath to produce waveguides simultaneou sly in the active and passive regions. A low reflectance of -34 +/- 2 dB wa s measured at the joint interface with 1531.2-nm light by optical low-coher ence reflectometry. Further, a hybrid laser waveguide device exhibited a sl ope efficiency of 33% at 1540 nm when pumped at 975 nm.