Planar waveguides formed in a new chemically stable Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped phosphate glass

A new Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped phosphate glass has been prepared, which exhibits good chemical durability and spectral properties. Planar graded index waveguides have been fabricated in the glass by Ag+-Na+ ion exchange in a mixed melt of silver nitrate and potassium nitrate. Ion exchange is carried out by varying the process parameters such as temperature, diffusion time, and molten salt compositions. The diffusion parameters, diffusion coefficients, and activation energy are determined by the guidelines of fabricated waveguides, which are determined by the input prism coupling technique.