Loss characteristics of potassium and silver double-ion-exchanged glass waveguides

Abstract
Loss characteristics of potassium and silver double-ion-exchanged glass waveguides are studied. Low propagation losses (less than 0.25 dB/cm) at 1.296 μm wavelength are measured, although aluminum as a mask and inexpensive multipurpose glass as a substrate are used in the fabrication process. The losses are compared to the losses of waveguides made by one-step aluminum masked silver ion exchange and by silver ion exchange with ionic masking (dielectric mask). The reasons for the loss reduction in double-ion-exchanged waveguides compared to one-step silver ion-exchanged waveguides are discussed.