Optical filter design with holographic photopolymer materials and selectively buried ion exchange optical waveguides

In this presentation we discuss a digital signal processing approach to optical component design and the fabrication of components in photopolymer layers and ion exchange waveguides. This technique is useful in designing complex filters such asapodized and cascaded gratings. We then illustrate the design process for a new type of Bragg filter formed in an edge illuminated holographic photopolymer. The filter can readily be apodized to reduce side lobes and cascaded to form various types of passband filters. In order to integrate filters of different types with optical fiber networks we describe a selectively buried ion exchange waveguide that provides efficient coupling between optical fibers and polymer materials deposited on the surface of the waveguide.