Tunable wavelength filters with Bragg gratings in polymer waveguides

Tunable wavelength filters are demonstrated based on the thermo-optic refractive index change of the polymer waveguide with Bragg reflection grating. For the low-loss waveguide operating around 1.55 μm, fluorinated polymers are incorporated. Bragg reflection gratings are fabricated using a phase mask and a high-index polymer. The Bragg reflector exhibits a narrow bandwidth of less than 1.0 nm, a crosstalk of -20 dB, an insertion loss of 3.2 dB, and a flat-top passband. The peak wavelength of Bragg reflection is shifted over 11 nm with a slight insertion loss change. The thermo-optic tuning efficiency is 22 nm/W and the peak shift is linearly proportional to the heating power. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.