All-organic waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometric device for communication and sensing applications
Edgars Nitiss (ISSP UL) speaks at the scientific workshop of ISSP UL Doctoral School “Functional Materials and Nanotechnologies”.
In the last couple of decades a tremendous growth in the use and development of waveguide photonics in the measurement technology and informatics can be noticed. This has been motivated mainly by the requirements in miniaturization of devices as well as in reduction of their costs and energy consumption. In this presentation we demonstrate our achievements in creation of all-organic waveguide devices. We have recently developed a waveguide electro-optical modulator capable of operating in the visible spectral range as well as a waveguide organic vapor sensor. Both devices have been made using direct-write optical lithography and their operation parameters have been investigated. The operation of both devices has been enabled by a novel nonlinear optical material that allows precise tuning of material refractive index, is sensitive to environmental conditions, as well as exhibits second order optical nonlinearity. In this presentation we will discuss the principles of the development of previously mentioned elements as well as strategies for device testing.
Keywords: organic materials, waveguides, nonlinear optics, sensors