Corning Incorporated

Danny Wayne Nightingale

Peter Gerard Wigley

Glenn E Kohnke

The present invention is directed to a method of enhancing the photosensitivity of an optical waveguide and an optical waveguide having persistent UV photosensitivity following out diffusion of a loading gas such as H,or D,. The optical waveguide is loaded with a gas such as H,or D,to form an associated baseline refractive index. At least a portion of the loaded optical waveguide is exposed to UV radiation to induce a change in the baseline refractive index and the waveguide is annealed to diffuse the gas from the loaded optical waveguide and to stabilize the change in refractive index. Following annealing the optical waveguide retains a UV photosensitivity sufficient to produce significant refractive index changes relative to the induced change in baseline refractive index. The method of the present invention is particularly well suited for designing and fabricating grating devices, tuning grating strength and wavelength, and for providing accurate spatial control of waveguide photosensitivity. Waveguides having complex photosensitivity profiles as a function of length are also disclosed.

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Beaver Dams, NY, United States of America

Danny Wayne Nightingale