Higher-order mode grating devices in As2S3 chalcogenide glass rib waveguides

We report on the design and fabrication of high-quality long-period gratings in chalcogenide glass (As2S3) rib waveguides utilizing the strong photosensitivity. Higher-order modes of the rib waveguides are analyzed by inspection of the spectra of Bragg gratings written into these waveguides. Based on these measurements, we infer the effective indices of higher-order modes, which are in good agreement with modeling results using a beam propagation method. High-quality long-period gratings are then designed and written into the rib waveguides using a simple shadow mask technique. Coupling the fundamental to the HE02 mode strong resonances of up to similar to 20 dB depths are obtained. The gratings have a length of L = 26 mm and a period of A =86 mu m. In situ monitoring of the writing process allows the growth dynamics of the grating to be studied. A theoretical fit to the measured transmission curve gives an average index change of similar to 10(-3). (C) 2007 Optical Society of America