New Er-doped phosphate glass for ion-exchange active waveguides: accurate determination of the refractive index

The optical properties of a new Er-doped glass for ion-exchange active waveguides have been characterized, including fluorescence lifetime, Ag-Na diffusion coefficient, and refractive index. In particular, the Sellmeier curve was determined from the visible to the near infrared by means of a non-conventional method based on the measurement of the output angle of radiation modes propagating within the substrate. An accuracy of about 1 x 10(-4) for the determination of the refractive index is obtained. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.