Thermal properties of channel optical waveguides based on sol–gel materials

Abstract

Temperature characteristics of various channel waveguides fabricated using the sol–gel technology are analyzed. It is shown that the limitation of transverse sizes of waveguides leads to significant variations in the temperature characteristics due to field concentration in the sol–gel material of the waveguide, which depends on the type of the channel waveguide and its parameters (geometrical sizes and refractive index of the sol–gel material). Recommendations on the selection of the type of waveguide and its parameters for specific applications in multiplexers, switches, optical cavities, etc. are presented.