Functionalized photopolymers for integrated optical components

Photopolymeric matrices functionalized with optically active molecules are of special interest to elaborate low cost organic components for use in integrated optics. We have first studied the patterning of the optical properties using appropriate masks for the actinic light inducing the polymerization through a one-photon absorption process. The modulation of the refractive index can be used to make optical waveguides or quasi phase-matching structures. We have then studied, both experimentally and theoretically, the various growth forms of self-written waveguides created in the bulk of photopolymerizable resins under quasi-solitonic propagation conditions. By using another approach, we have taken advantage of the high spatial selectivity of the two-photon absorption procedure to design controlled optical polymerized pathways. As an example, we have realized fibers connections, Y-branch splittings, and finally, a passive Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure, opening the way to the fabrication of fully organic electro-optical modulators.