Bragg grating optical filters by UV nanoimprinting

Abstract

Results on an optical waveguide filter operating in the near IR region are reported. The device consists of a hybrid sol-gel -based grating loaded waveguide, obtained through the merging of conventional photolithography and UV-nanoimprinting. Starting from submicrometric gratings, fabricated by electron beam lithography, a soft mould has been produced and the original structures were replicated onto sol-gel photosensitive films. A final photolithographic step allowed the production of grating-loaded channel waveguides. The devices were optically characterized by transmission measurements in the telecom range 1450-1590nm. The filter extinction ratio is -11dB and the bandwidth is 1.7nm. © 2012 M. Casalboni et al.