Integrated polymer waveguides incorporating nonlinear chromophores for all-optical signal processing

In order to obtain non-linear waveguides for all-optical signal processing, new nonlinear polymer waveguides incorporating chromophores have been designed and processed using standard photolithographic steps. Polymer refractive index changes with chromophore concentration are presented. Waveguides exhibiting single mode propagation and high optical field confinement are demonstrated and optical propagation losses of 4.1 dB/cm at 1550 nm are measured.