Prospects of new planar optical waveguides based on eutectic microcomposites of insulating crystals: The ZrO₂(c)-CaZrO₃ erbium doped system

A new approach to produce structured optical materials is described. The method relies on the capability of growing eutectic crystals of wide optical band gap materials by directional solidification procedures. The laser float zone technique was used to produce ordered arrays of alternate lamellae with thickness of the order of microns of erbium doped CaZrO₃ and calcia stabilized zirconia single crystals. The later, having a higher refractive index, exhibited planar waveguiding effects as it has been proved experimentally. The possibility of producing waveguides from eutectic crystals promises the fabrication of hundreds of planar waveguides integrated into a crystal grown at a speed of several tenths of cm/h. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.