Dye-doped polymeric waveguides for integrated optics

We present a study of fabrication and characterization of methyl red doped polystyrene waveguides. Optical absorption and mode effective refractive index measurements were performed on a large number of waveguides fabricated on glass substrates prepared by a dip coating technique. It is observed that doping of azo dye increases the index of refraction of the waveguides. The losses, however, decrease initially for dye concentration up to 0.1% and thereafter increase rapidly.