Abstract: The present invention provides a method of patterning a substrate, the method including, inter alia, forming a multi-layered structure on the substrate formed from first, second and third materials. The first, second and third materials are exposed to an etch chemistry, with the first and second materials having a common etch rate along a first direction, defining a first etch rate, and the first and third materials having a similar etch rate along a second direction, transversely extending to the first direction, defining a second etch rate. Typically, the etch rate is selected to be different in furtherance of facilitating control of the dimensions of features formed during the etching process.

Abstract: Optical and optoelectronic articles incorporating an amorphous diamond-like film are disclosed. Specifically, the invention includes optical or optoelectronic articles containing an amorphous diamond-like film overlying two or more proximate substrates, and to methods of making optical and optoelectronic articles. In certain implementations, the film comprises at least about 30 atomic percent carbon, from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent silicon, and from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent oxygen on a hydrogen-free basis. Another embodiment includes optical or optoelectronic articles containing an amorphous diamond-like film that is further coated with a metallic or polymeric material for attachment to a device package.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for writing apodized Bragg gratings into an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of providing a photosensitive optical fiber and a writing beam. A periodic intensity distribution of period .LAMBDA. is created from the writing beam and the optical fiber is translated relative to the intensity distribution at a velocity v(t). The intensity of the writing beam is modulated as a function of time at a frequency f(t), where ##EQU1## The intensity of the writing beam is varied further to control the envelope of the refractive index profile to write apodized gratings.