Planar Bragg gratings made by excimer-laser modification of ion-exchanged waveguides

The refractive indices of planar silver-ion-exchanged waveguides have been modified by UV excimer laser irradiation (lambda=193 nm) . The effective index changes of the fundamental modes of the waveguides after exposition are as large as 2x10(-2) . The procedure permits the fabrication of integrated optical components in a direct way, with neither the use of standard lithography nor previous sensitizing of the substrate. Optical characterization of the irradiated samples is presented. By the use of appropriate masks, we have fabricated planar Bragg gratings.