Active and Quantum Integrated Photonic Elements by Ion Exchange in Glass

Ion exchange in glass has a long history as simple and effective technology to produce gradient-index structures been largely exploited industry research laboratories. In particular, ion-exchanged waveguide served an excellent platform for theoretical experimental studies on integrated optical circuits, with successful applications communications, processing sensing. It should not be forgotten that the ion-exchange process can crystalline materials, too, several crucial devices, such modulators frequency doublers, have fabricated by ion lithium niobate. Here, however, we are concerned only material, brief review is presented of main aspects waveguides passive active elements, directional couplers, gratings, amplifiers lasers, all glass. Then, some promising activities photonic particular quantum devices (quantum circuits), analyzed. An emerging type and/or reconfigurable cryptography or even specific tasks presently gaining increasing interest photonics; accordingly, propose their implementation using waveguides, also foreseeing integration lasers.