Low-loss photonic device in Ge-Sb-S chalcogenide glass

Low-loss waveguides constitute an important building block for integrated photonic systems. In this work, we investigated low-loss photonic device fabrication in Ge₂₃Sb₇S₇₀ chalcogenide glass using electron beam lithography followed by plasma dry etching. High-index-contrast waveguides with a low propagation loss of 0.5 dB/cm and microdisk resonators with an intrinsic quality factor (Q-factor) of 1.2×10⁶ were demonstrated. Both figures represent, to the best of our knowledge, the best low-loss results reported thus far in submicrometer single-mode chalcogenide glass devices.