We reported for what is to be believed the first time a double optical waveguide in a Cu-doped potassium sodium strontium barium niobate (KNSBN) crystal formed by double boron ion implantation. The energy and dose of B+ and B3+ ions were (3 + 6) MeV and (2 + 2) x 10(14) ions/cm(2), respectively. The refractive index profile of the waveguide showed a double-barrier confined shape, which suggested the formation of a two-layer waveguide structure. The two waveguide layers were with thickness of 2.6 and 2 mum, respectively, which was in a good agreement with the parameters obtained from transport and range of ions in matter 98 (TRIM) code simulation. The nuclear energy loss distribution of the MeV B ions implanted into this crystal had a similar shape to that of the waveguide index profile, which means an inherent relationship between the waveguide formation and the energetic energy deposition. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.