Visible and near-infrared optical properties of chalcogenide glass waveguides formed by swift Kr ion irradiation

Planar waveguide structures in chalcogenide glass were fabricated with 17 MeV or 150 MeV swift Kr ion irradiation. Images of the polished end faces of the Kr-irradiated chalcogenide glass were measured with a metallographic microscope using reflected polarized light. SRIM 2010 was used to simulate the electronic and nuclear stopping powers for swift Kr ion irradiation. The micro-Raman spectra were measured in air. The near-field intensity distributions were investigated at visible (633 nm) and near-infrared (1300 nm, 1500 nm, 1539 nm and 1620 nm) bands. These intensity distributions make the waveguide candidates for infrared laser devices. The estimated propagation loss of the waveguide fabricated by 150 MeV swift Kr ion irradiation was approximately 4 dB/cm at a wavelength of 633 nm.