Optically written polymers used as optical interconnects and for hybridisation

The performance of a novel multifunctional acrylate based photo-polymer is presented. Rapid direct writing of multimode (50 mum square core) cladded w aveguides, compliant bumps for flip-chip bonding and 45 degrees total inter nal reflection mirrors for out of plane coupling have been realised using a high-power 325 nm He:Cd laser with high precision and repeatability. The l osses are measured to be less than 0.17 dB/cm at 850 nm and less than 0.5 d B/cm at 1300 nm by cutback method. This custom multifunctional acrylate co- polymer has been found to be thermally stable up to a temperature of 300 de grees as determined using DTA-TG analysis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.