Microring Resonators Made in Poled and Unpoled Chromophore-Containing Polymers for Optical Communication and Sensors

Poled and unpoled chromophore-containing polymers offer some unique advantages in device functionality and fabrication. UV light and electron beam (e-beam) can bleach out the color of chromophores and reduce the index of refraction of the polymer. The photobleaching and e-beam bleaching methods form optical waveguides in a single step and do not involve solvents or wet chemicals, and can be applied to polymers that are not compatible with other waveguide fabrication techniques. A variety of microring resonator devices for fiber-optic telecommunication and sensors have been realized with chromophore-containing polymers. A novel broadband fiber-optic electric field sensor is presented as an example. The sensor uses a polymer with chromophores preferentially aligned after electric poling, and the microring resonator is directly coupled to the core of optical fiber. The feasibility of vertical integration of a poled electrooptic polymer waveguide device interfaced with silicon microelectronic circuits is also demonstrated.