Optical nonlinearities in CdSxSe_1-x-doped glass waveguides

A pump–probe Mach–Zehnder interferometer was used to investigate the nonlinear-optical properties of CdSxSe1-x-doped glass channel waveguides. The technique is used in situ and may be used to determine the suitability of the material under investigation for all-optical switching. The saturation and dynamical properties of the material are readily determined by using the technique, as are thermal effects. Semiconductor-plasma theory was used to predict the nonlinear optical properties, and reasonable agreement with experiment was obtained.