Heavy Metal Fluoride Glass Films and Planar Waveguide Structures

Multicomponent films of vitreous ZrF4- based materials were deposited on different substrates using Physical Vapor Deposition techniques. Thicknesses in excess of 10 microns have been achieved for individual films. Some of the deposited materials are resistant to attack by atmospheric moisture and their glassy nature has been confirmed by DSC measurements. The optical properties of a number of films have been characterized and their potential application in planar waveguides structures is considered.