Wavelength dispersion of effective refractive indices of Rb:KTiOPO4 optical waveguides

Multimode planar optical waveguides in z-cut KTiOPO/sub 4/ (KTP) substrates have been fabricated using Rb/sup +/:K/sup +/ ion-exchange process. Variations in the refractive index profile and the surface index change with wavelength in these waveguides are approximated by a simple relation. The dispersion characteristics of the effective refractive indices for different guided modes before and after annealing are calculated based on this approximation and the WKB method. Furthermore, the wavelength dispersion can also be expressed using a sellmeier-like equation, and there is an excellent agreement between the calculated values and the measured data.