Ion -exchanged ring resonator integrated optic devices

Ion-exchanged ring resonators are presented as inexpensive yet highly sensitive integrated optic devices. Several historical applications for ring resonators are outlined then compared with competing technologies.;The theory of ring resonator devices is described in detail. The optimum designs for both single and double arm ring resonator configurations are discussed. Ring resonator performance is shown to depend on both the waveguide propagation loss and coupling efficiency. A theoretical model of the ion exchange process is presented and used to determine the processing parameters that minimize bend loss. The coupling efficiency is then modeled for the theoretical waveguide profile. A fabrication recipe for producing high performance ring resonators is developed and the performance of several devices is analyzed.;The applications of ring resonator devices for accurate measurement of waveguide birefringence and for rotation sensing are examined. A birefringence measurement technique using ring resonators is presented and the sensitivity of this method is compared to other approaches. The theoretical analysis of the rotational sensitivity of ion-exchanged ring resonator gyroscopes is presented and is shown to have an improvement of two orders of magnitude over previously reported ion-exchanged gyroscopes.