Precise Replica Technology Study for Fine Optical Waveguide Device

미세 광소자용 도파로 정밀 복제기술 연구

In this paper, we describe a simple, precise and low cost method of fabricating PDMS stamp for UV embossing. It is important to improve the replication quality of stamp because the accuracy of fabricated structure is related to that of the stamp in UV embossing. The PDMS stamp has been fabricated by the replica molding technology with ultrasonic vibration to eliminate micro-air bubbles during the fabrication process of PDMS stamp. Also, this fabrication to use ultrasonic vibration promotes PDMS solution to fill into micro channel and edge parts. We report the fabrication of an optical core using UV embossing with fabricated PDMS stamp. This fabricated core is $7\;\mu{m}\;at\;depth,\;6\;\mu{m}\;at\;width.\;This\;measured\;value\;has\;the\;difference\;below\;1\;\mu{m}$compared to the original stamp. The surface roughness of core is about 14 nm root mean square. This is satisfactory value to use low-loss optical waveguide. Our successful demonstration of precise replica technology presents an alternative approach for the stamp of UV embossing.