DR1 doped sol-gel planar waveguides for nonlinear devices operating at telecommunications wavelengths

Abstract : We report on linear and nonlinear optical properties of Disperse Red 1-doped solgel waveguides. The refractive-index and optical-propagation losses of the guiding layer were measured between 0.756 mm and 1.64 mm. The spectral broadening of the chromophore charge-transfer transition in the visible is modeled with a Voigt-profile function. In the telecommunications window the attenuation is dominated by the overtones of the O--H bonds vibration bands. The nonlinear optical coefficients were measured at different poling strengths with the Maker-fringe method. The nonlinear coefficient d33 was found to be 4.5 pm V21 at 1.58 mm for a poling field of 60 Vmm21.