Fabrication of As_2S_8 channel waveguide with low propagation loss

摘要

A_2S_8 glass films are shown to undergo changes in the refractive index under ultraviolet (UV) illumination and annealing treatment, respectively. Under UV illumination, the maximum change in the refractive index of the as-deposited As_2S_8 is ~0.056; while under annealing treatment, it lies on and increases with increase of the annealing temperature. In addition, the changes of the refractive index in the well-illuminated A_2S_8 glass films after annealing are not reversible until the annealing temperature is up to 160℃.The A_2S_8 channel waveguide fabricated by exposure to UV illumination still exists after annealing of 130～160℃, and the refractive index differences between the areas of the channel waveguide and the planar waveguide in this waveguide are 0.0120~0.0081. Light propagation experiment shows that this A_2S_8 channel waveguide has a light guide character with good quality and a low propagation loss of ~4dB/cm.