Waveguides written in silver-doped tellurite glasses

We have studied the optical properties of channel waveguides written using a femtosecond laser in tellurite-zinc glasses doped with metallic silver (%TeO2%ZnO:Ag). Our findings showed that the tellurium dioxide glasses could be significantly affected by the silver presence, even with low silver concentration. By properly choosing the parameters and glassy matrix the written waveguides presented lower optical insertion losses and greater refractive index change. •Channel waveguides was constructed in tellurite-zinc glasses using a femtosecond laser.•The silver nanoparticles presence sensitized the glassy matrix to the incident pulse energy.•The writing parameters and the glassy matrix chosen enabled reduced optical losses and increased refractive index change.