POTASSIUM SOURCE FOR ION-EXCHANGE GLASS WAVE-GUIDE FABRICATION

We propose and demonstrate the use of a new potassium-ion source for g lass waveguide fabrication based on a KI-ZnCl2 mixture. Planar wavegui de were made using glasses such as BK7, Pyrex, soda lime, and commerci al semiconductor doped glasses. The optical quality of the waveguides prepared compare favorably with the quality obtained using other fabri cation techniques and the processing time is considerably reduced. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.