Low-loss fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfide) waveguides with high thermal stability

Some novel cross-linkable fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfides) (FPAFSI) mere synthesized for use in optical waveguide applications. The materials have high thermal stability, high optical transparency in the infrared comm unication region, and much less birefringence than other thermally stable f luorinated polyimides. The refractive index of FPAESI after storage at 100 degreesC for 1000 h remains almost constant, demonstrating their thermal st ability. Furthermore, the refractive index of the material can be easily co ntrolled by changing the fluorine content of the materials. The propagation loss of channel waveguides, which were fabricated using reactive ion etchi ng was less than 0.42 dB/cm and 0.4 dB/cm at the wavelength of 1.55 mum for TE and TM polarizations, respectively.