Integrated optical device and method of formation

Abstract

An integrated planar Bragg grating is fabricated by depositing layers of material onto a negative expansion substrate to form a waveguide, which is held in mechanical tension with the substrate. A Bragg grating is then formed in the waveguide. As the temperature of the waveguide increases, the mechanical tension between the waveguide and the substrate is relieved, such that the peak reflection wavelength of the Bragg grating remains nearly constant.

Description

Background of the invention [0001] 1. technical field [0002] The present invention relates generally to integrated optical ("planar") Bragg gratings, and more particularly, to integrated optical Bragg gratings whose peak reflection wavelength is substantially insensitive to temperature changes. [0003] 2. Background technique [0004] A Bragg grating comprises an optical waveguide defining a pattern or stack of regions of alternating higher and lower refractive indices, so that the grating reflects light in a narrow wavelength band and wavelengths outside the band are transmitted through the grating. Bragg gratings are good narrowband filters for various applications such as wavelength multiplexers, fiber laser mirrors, dispersion control devices or sensors. For this reason, Bragg gratings are becoming more and more important in optical communications. [0005] An important characteristic of a Bragg grating is the stability of its peak reflection wavelength with res...

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Problems solved by technology

Second, the manufacturing process of current devices is generally complex and expensive

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