Fabrication of integrated optical structures in polydiacetylene films by irreversible photoinduced bleaching

Spin-coated and solution-cast films of poly5,7-dodecadiyn-1,12-diol-bis(n-butoxycarbonyl-methyl-urethane), or briefly, poly-4BCMU, irreversibly bleach when irradiated by light tuned within the absorption band of the polymer sample. Characteristic bleaching times have been measured at several wavelengths. The refractive index of poly-4BCMU has been measured at 1.064 μm for various photobleaching energies. Refractive index changes as large as −0.08 have been measured, and the decrease in refractive index has been used to define waveguide channels and gratings.