Abstract

Preparation of high-quality optical waveguides assumes a suitable substrate and a suitable process to produce an optical structure. In the case of optical waveguides produced by ion exchange in glass, many papers have been published which describe the ion exchange with Ag⁺, TI⁺, and K⁺/Na⁺ ions in commercial glasses, such as soda lime or normal optical glasses. These ions have several disadvantages: low stability of the 1+-oxidation state (Ag); high toxicity (TI); and low refractive-index increase (K/Na).

© 1986 Optical Society of America