Method for producing photoinduced bragg gratings by irradiating a hydrogenated glass body in a heated state

摘要

In accordance with the invention, the index of refraction of a region of a glass body is selectively increased by treating the material with hydrogen and then simultaneously applying heat and actinic radiation to the region. Preferably the body is heated to a temperature in excess of 150° C. and the heat and radiation are simultaneously applied. The result is a substantial and long-lived increase in excess of 5×10. sup.-5 in the refractive index of the irradiated region. This process can be used to make and adjust a variety of optical waveguide devices such as photoinduced Bragg gratings.