Absorption and scattering in low-loss polymer optical waveguides

The absolute absorption spectra of low-loss optical waveguides, together with their intrinsic and extrinsic scatterings, were measured in the near infrared. Photothermal deflection spectroscopy was used to measure the full absorption spectra of a series of fluorinated cross-linked polymers. Assignment of - CH3 - CH2-, and -OH overtones as well as of combinations of overtones were made by use of the theory of anharmonic vibrations based on a Morse potential for local modes. Details of the molecular potential are given. The total attenuation in slab waveguides made with these polymers was measured by a prism-coupling technique and compared with the absolute absorption. Losses that are due to the material itself and those that are due to the processing are quantified. © 2001 Optical Society of America.