Abstract: An optical, integrated waveguide component has a single crystal body (20) e.g. of lithium niobate which has a flat upper surface (22) provided with waveguides (23) and flat parallel end surfaces (21). The crystal has cleavage planes, and an optical axis in the crystal can be defined with a given inclination to these planes. The end surfaces (21) of the body (20) consist of cleavage planes for obtaining small losses when coupling light into the waveguides (23). The upper surface (22) is oriented such that in relation to the crystalline structure, the optical axis of the crystal is in a plane (24) defined by the normals (n2, n1) to the upper surface and the end surfaces. The angle between the upper surface (22) and end surfaces (21) deviates from a right angle by an angle (.beta.) of a most 10 degrees.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of purifying indium from silicon by baking an indium melt at a predetermined baking temperature in a crucible in a quartz container through which hydrogen gas having a predetermined water content, is flowed. According to the invention the quartz container is kept during the baking at a predetermined temperature that is lower than the baking temperature, and the surface skin of the melt is broken up at least once during the baking.