OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES.

Abstract

The use of dielectric films, strips and ribs on transparent substrates as waveguides in planar optics is considered. Made of materials suitable for integration of lines and components into microscopic circuits, they are preferably monomode and have less than 1 db/cm loss. Cladded core and gradient glass fibers transmit optical signals over wide distances with low loss and distortion. High silica content fibers have as little as 1 db/km loss and broaden laser pulses by less than 1 ns/km.