Preparation of PZG fluoride glass channel waveguides

The fabrication of PZG (PbF2-ZnF2-GaF3) fluoride glass channel waveguides grown by vapor phase deposition on heated fluoride substrates is described. The ZBLAN fluorozirconate glass substrate is photomasked, then a wet etching, using ZrOCl2 solution is done to achieve the channels. The vapor deposition of PZG glass results in multimode waveguides, whose properties have been measured by the near field technique. The estimated guide loss is similar to 2 dB/cm at 1.55 mu m. Rare-earth doped waveguides (Er3+, Pr3+) can be obtained by co-evaporation of the PZG mixture and the rare-earth fluoride.