Optical waveguides fabricated by transition element ions exchange in some commercial and special optical glasses

The transition element (silver, copper and erbium) ions exchange fabrication and properties of the planar optical waveguides are reported for a variety of commercial and specially formulated optical glasses. The properties of the waveguides are discussed from the point of view of the stability of the oxidation state of the diffusing ions and the composition of the substrate glasses, taking into account the ratios of the bridging (BO) and non-bridging (NBO) oxygen atoms in the glass matrixes and the type of the fining agents used.