Patent ID: 6796148
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A method of writing a light guiding structure comprising the steps of:providing a glass substrate formed from a substantially germanium-free silica-based material, wherein the glass substrate has not been subjected to a hydrogen loading step; and focusing a beam output from a below 300 nm laser within the substantially germanium-free silica-based material of the provided glass substrate while translating the focused beam relative to the substrate along a scan path at a scan speed effective to densify and induce an increase in the refractive index of the substantially germanium-free silica-based material along the scan path relative to that of the unexposed material while incurring substantially no laser induced breakdown of the material along the scan path, thereby forming an optical waveguide having a core formed from the densified substantially germanium-free silica-based material; and a cladding surrounding the core, the cladding being formed from the substantially germanium-free silica-based material.