Optical and structural effects of ion implantation in polymer waveguides

Our work consists in the study of ion implantation effects on the linear and nonlinear optical properties of polymer thin films. This project started with developing god quality planar waveguides based on a well-known photoconductor polymer, the polyvinylcabazole. This polymer, which as no nonlinear properties, is deposited by spin coating on a BK7 substrate. A diffraction grating etched on the substrate surface, will act as an input coupler for the waveguide. We present here our latest results concerning the study of these polymer waveguides exposed to energetic ion beam. We are using the grating coupler method to characterize the linear and nonlinear optical properties of these waveguides before and after ion implantation. Due to the conjugated chains created by the implantation, we expect (chi) (3) type nonlinear properties and more specifically electronic nonlinear refractive index. Concerning the structural modifications, the implanted polymer films are studied by IR and UV/visible spectroscopy. We will lay emphasis on the new structures created as well as on the important destruction caused by implantation.