Proton-exchanged optical waveguides of z-cut MgO-doped material were prepared by using adipic acid as a novel proton source. The waveguides exhibited propagation losses of less than 1dB/cm, a linear-step index profile, and a surface index increase of 0.149 at a wavelength of 0.633. This was the largest surface index change that had been reported for proton-exchanged waveguides made from the present material. The diffusion parameters were deduced by using optical techniques, and the Arrhenius parameters were found to be 5.40 x 1010²/h and 103.27kJ/mol. The diffusion was slower than that which was associated with the use of phosphoric acid.

E.Y.B.Pun, K.K.Loi, C.F.Mak, P.S.Chung: Journal of Applied Physics, 1993, 73[6], 3114-6