Intracavity sequential quasi-synchronous interactions in an active nonlinear medium with a regular domain structure

A theory is developed to describe sequential quasi-synchronous wave interactions in an active non-linear medium with a regular domain structure inside a cavity. In particular, sequential processes of quasi-synchronous third-harmonic generation and quasi-synchronous parametric amplification that occur in a Nd:Mg:LiNbO₃ crystal with a regular domain structure under low-frequency pumping are analyzed. The efficiency of these nonlinear optical processes is studied as a function of both the reflection coefficient of the exit mirror and the linear loss in the medium.     

Periodic domain structures formed under electron-beam irradiation in LiNbO3 plates and Ti:LiNbO3 planar waveguides of the Y cut

Regular domain structures on the Y cuts of the LiNbO₃ substrates and Ti:LiNbO₃ waveguide structures based on these substrates have been fabricated under electron-beam irradiation. It has been revealed that the domains in undoped and titanium-doped LiNbO₃ crystals are formed as a result of different processes. It has been demonstrated using chemical etching and waveguide second-harmonic generation that regular domain structures in the Ti:LiNbO₃ waveguides are formed at a depth of approximately 8 μm from the surface, where the titanium concentration does not exceed 2 mol %. The quasi-synchronous waveguide optical second harmonic generation with an efficiency of 8.8% has been obtained using the fabricated structures.     

Frequency doubling of phase-modulated femtosecond laser pulses in periodically poled and chirped nonlinear crystals

The second harmonic generation (SHG) at a wavelength of 0.8 μm by 50-and 10-fs pulses with and without phase modulation (PM) was systematically studied in LiNbO₃ crystals with regular domain structure and linearly varied domain thickness. The main results were obtained by numerical method, taking into account the difference between group velocities of interacting pulses and the group-velocity dispersion. In the approximation of the given field of the fundamental radiation, an analytical expression was derived for the spectral density of the second harmonic in the periodically poled nonlinear crystal (PPNC) under nonstationary excitation conditions. It was numerically found that the conversion efficiency of about 90% can be achieved by doubling the frequency of 50-fs laser pulses without PM in the LiNbO₃ PPNC. The maximum conversion efficiency for the SHG by PM pulses is achieved at a certain optimum chirp step in the crystal domain length, which depends on both the value and sign of frequency modulation.     

Observation of the Photoinduced Conductivity in a Regular Domain Structure with Tilted Walls in MgO:LiNbO3 at a Wavelength of 632.8 nm at Bragg Diffraction

A 632.8-nm radiation-induced change in the conductivity of a regular domain structure (RDS) formed in a 5% MgO:LiNbO₃ crystal has been detected for the first time. As a result, the relaxation rate for the Bragg diffraction efficiency on the RDS, which is observed after the application of an external electric field, increases with the intensity of a probe beam. This dependence is linear in the initial stage of relaxation caused by the screening of the external field because of the redistribution of charges over tilted conductive domain walls of the RDS. For the probe beam with an intensity of 49 mW/mm², the induced effective conductivity of the RDS, which is estimated as σ_eff = 3.5×10⁻⁹Ω⁻¹m⁻¹, is more than four orders of magnitude higher than the dark conductivity of the single-domain MgO:LiNbO₃ sample.

     

On the theory of the second optical harmonic in nonlinear crystals with a regular domain structure

The theory of the second-harmonic generation in crystals with a regular domain structure (RDS) is developed in the approximation of the fixed intensity of the fundamental radiation. An analytical expression for the second-harmonic intensity is derived. The results are compared with the data obtained in the fixed-field approximation and the numerical solution. The maximum number of layers n _max at which the theory remains valid is determined. Numerical estimates of n _max are presented for the frequency doubling of an ultrashort light pulse in the LiNbO₃ RDS crystal.     

Degenerate parametric frequency conversion of phase-modulated femtosecond laser pulses in crystals with a regular and chirped domain structure

A systematic theoretical analysis of the degenerate parametric frequency conversion in a LiNbO₃ crystal with a regular domain structure and a linearly varying domain thickness (chirped crystal) is presented for the pulses of a titanium-sapphire laser with a wavelength of 0.8 μm and durations of 100 and 50 fs in the presence and in the absence of phase modulation. The results are obtained with regard to the difference in the group velocities of interacting pulses and the group velocity dispersion. For an effective frequency conversion of the phase-modulated (PM) pump pulse, it is expedient to employ chirped crystals in which the domain thickness decreases from the entrance to the exit of the crystal. The pump energy is effectively converted into subharmonic energy when the pump carrier frequency decreases with time. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of the energy conversion to a subharmonic of 80% can be realized for PM pumping with a pulse duration of 100 fs in the chirped LiNbO₃ crystal. The efficiency of the parametric frequency conversion depends on the pump intensity as well as on the phase modulation of the pulse and the chirp of the crystal. Note that a variation in one of these parameters causes variations in the remaining parameters needed for the maximum efficiency of the parametric frequency conversion.     

Role of stoichiometric point defect in electric-field-poling lithium niobate

Non-congruent LiNbO₃ crystals has been used to determine the influence of the intrinsic defect density in the ferroelectric domain inversion mechanism. The poling processes have been carried out either at high temperature or at RT throughout the electric-field-poling technique. It is shown that the coercive field of LiNbO₃ crystals is strongly influenced by the intrinsic defect density in the crystals. Moreover it is shown that it is possible to realign the ferroelectric domain structure of near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystals to prepare periodic poled structures which allows second harmonic generation at shorter wavelengths than with congruent crystals at a fixed wavelength. Received: 6 July 1999 / Accepted: 24 November 1999 / Published online: 24 March 2000     

High-pressure single-crystal studies of MnTiO3

Abstract

Recent high-pressure single-crystal x-ray diffraction experiments have provided new information on the crystal chemistry of MnTiO₃ and have provided insight into polymorphic transitions among phases of this composition. The stable polymorph of MnTiO₃ at room P and T has the ilmenite structure. At high P and T, MnTiO₃ ilmenite (MnTiO₃ II) transforms to a LiNbO₃ structure through a cation reordering process, and the quenched LiNbO₃-structure phase transforms to a perovskite structure as the pressure is again increased. This transition is unique in that twinned MnTiO₃ II crystals transform under pressure to untwinned crystals having the perovskite structure. The back-transformation of perovskite to the LiNbO₃ structure as pressure is released is similar to that observed previously for the rutile-type dioxides TiO₂ and SnO₂.     

Anomalous increase in the unipolarity of doped lithium niobate crystals in the temperature range 300–400 K

The lithium niobate single crystals doped with B, Zn, and Gd at a content of 0.002–0.44 wt % have been grown. Their domain structure, static and dynamic piezoelectric properties, dielectric properties, and conductivity are investigated over a wide range of frequencies. The dielectric dispersion associated with the Debye-type relaxation process and considerable anomalies in ?′₂₂(T) and conductivity are revealed in the temperature range ～300–400 K. At these temperatures, the piezoelectric modulus d ₃₃ of the initial polydomain crystals LiNbO₃: Gd jumpwise increases up to the values close to those for the undoped single-domain crystal. This increase is accompanied by a substantial change in the etch patterns due to the domain structure of the crystal. The nature of the anomalies observed in LiNbO₃ in the above temperature range is discussed.     

Regular domain structures fabricated by an electron beam in stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals

Electron beam writing of regular domain structures in Z-cuts 0.75 mm thick of stoichiometric and close to stoichiometric LiNbO₃ crystals has been carried out. Crystals have been grown by the Czochralski method from a melt with excess Li₂O (58.6 mol %) and from a congruent-composition melt in the presence of 6 wt % K₂O alkali solvent (flux). In both crystals, threshold charge doses required to form individual domains have been determined, and the optimal conditions of periodic structure patterning by sequential local irradiations have been found. Domain gratings of similar type (with periods of 6.5, 7, and 10 ??m) are formed in both types of stoichiometric crystals.     

利用数字全息干涉术观察RuO2:LiNbO3晶体中畴反转的区域特性

利用马赫-曾德尔干涉光路和4f光学透镜系统，以部分畴反转的掺钌铌酸锂晶体(RuO₂:LiNbO₃)的透射光作为物光来记录全息图，并在数值再现过程对其进行频域滤波以实现物场波前信息的数值重建，检测出在一定电压作用下晶体内部折射率变化的二维分布.检测结果证实：晶体中发生畴反转的区域与发生电色效应的区域严格相符.数字全息干涉术非接触、无干扰、无破坏的优势在准实时监控、检测和分析铌酸锂晶体畴反转方面有很好的应用前景. 关键词： 畴反转 数字全息干涉术 电色效应     

The study of damage and optical properties in LiNbO3 implanted by MeV Er and He ions

Abstract

Two LiNbO₃ (X and Y cut) crystals from different companies were implanted by 3.0 MeV Er ions to a dose of 7.5 × 10¹⁴ ions/cm² and 3.5 × 10¹⁴ ions/cm² with different beam current densities, respectively. After annealing at 1060°C in air for 2 hours, one LiNbO₃ sample was implanted by 1.5 MeV He ions to a dose of 1.5 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm². The Rutherford backscattering/channeling and prism coupling method have been used to study the damage and optical properties in implanted LiNbO₃. The results show: (1) the damage in LiNbO₃ created by 3.0 MeV Er ions depends strongly on the beam current density; (2) after annealing at 1060°C in air for 2 hours, a good Er doped LiNbO₃ crystal was obtained; (3) there is waveguide formation possible in this Er-doped annealed LiNbO₃ after 1.5 MeV He ion implantation. It is suggested that annealing is needed to remove the damage created by MeV Er ions before the MeV He ion implantation takes place, to realize the waveguide laser for Er doped LiNbO₃.     

Photorefractive light scattering in lithium niobate crystals doped with Mg2+, B3+, Y3+, and Ta5+

We have investigated the photorefractive (photoinduced) light scattering in lithium niobate single crystals: LiNbO₃, LiNbO₃:B, LiNbO₃:Y(0.46 mas %), LiNbO₃:Y(0.24):Mg(0.63 mas %), and LiNbO₃:Ta(1.13):Mg(0.0109 mas %) that were grown from congruent melts. We have found that the shape of the speckle structure of this scattering and the kinetics of the development of its indicatrix depend substantially on the type of the impurity dopant in the lithium niobate crystal. We have observed that, upon laser irradiation of crystals doped with Y³⁺, Ta⁵⁺:Mg²⁺, and Y³⁺:Mg²⁺, the shape of their scattering indicatrix changes with time. At the same time, the LiNbO₃:B crystal is characterized by a complete absence of time changes in its speckle structure, which indicates that the photorefractive effect in this crystal is substantially lowered.     

Domain inversion in LiNbO3 and Zn-doped LiNbO3 crystals by the electron-beam irradiation of the nonpolar Y-surface

Individual domains and domain gratings were fabricated on nonpolar Y-cuts of LiNbO₃ and LiNbO₃-Zn crystals by electron beam irradiation. The domains which nucleated in the irradiation points are frontally growing along the direction +Z within a thin (of about several microns) surface layer. The regularities of this motion are discussed in the framework of the approach to formation of space-charge fields under e-beam charging of insulators. The obtained dependency of the domain length on the exposure time permits us to propose the viscous-friction mechanism for the observed frontal domain growth. The velocity of the frontal growth in LiNbO₃-Zn is higher than in LiNbO₃ obviously due to a decreased number of pinning centers at the Nb-antisites. In LiNbO₃-4 %Zn crystals planar domain gratings were fabricated by means of point-to-point irradiations along the X- and Z-directions with specified distances between the irradiation points. It is shown that the domain gratings are generated by a total field of point charges $ \vec{E} = \sum\nolimits_{i = 1}^{n} {\vec{E}_{i} } $ , where E _i is the space-charge field induced in any irradiation point, and n is the number of points. Some preliminary estimates indicate that the frontal growth of domains under e-beam irradiation occurs at fields E < E _c.     

Ferroelectric domain inversion in near-stoichiometric lithium niobate for high efficiency blue light generation

LiNbO₃ single crystals with a composition close to stoichiometry ([Li]/[Li+Nb]=0.496), 16 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length were grown by the Czochralski method using K₂O flux. The domain reversal characteristics of near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃ single crystals were investigated. The switching field required for 180° ferroelectric domain reversal in the near-stoichiometric crystal at room temperature was 7.5 KV/mm. This is about one third of the switching field required for conventional LiNbO₃ crystals. Domain reversal (180°) in near-stoichiometric LiNbO₃ samples of 1.0 mm thickness has been achieved. Samples have been evaluated by second harmonic generation and conversion efficiencies of up to 32% have been obtained. Received: 8 November 2000 / Accepted: 29 January 2001 / Published online: 20 June 2001     

Generation of squeezed light upon frequency self-doubling in active nonlinear crystals with regular domain structure

A quantum theory of self-convers of the lasing frequency in active nonlinear crystals placed in a cavity is developed. The generation of nonclassical (quadrature squeezed) light upon self-doubling of the laser radiation frequency is studied in detail, with no limitations on the relations between the relaxation times of the inverse population and the polarization of the medium and the lifetime of a photon in the cavity. The fluctuation spectra of the quadrature components of the fields of the laser radiation and its second harmonic are studied in dependence on the pumping parameters and the parameters of the cavity. Numerical calculations are performed for a Nd:Mg:LiNbO₃ crystal with a regular domain structure.     

掺镁铌酸锂亚微米结构畴反转的研究

研究了掺镁铌酸锂(MgO：LiNbO₃)的极化特性及其畴壁运动的性质,通过调节多个脉冲外加电场来控制畴壁的运动,在背向反转效应作用下,反转畴发生劈裂,制备出均匀的掺镁铌酸锂亚微米周期畴结构,并分析探讨了掺镁铌酸锂亚微米结构的成因及其反转机理. 关键词： 亚微米畴结构 掺镁铌酸锂 背向反转     

A comparison of the performance of LiNbO3, and LiTaO3, traveling-wave phase modulators

Abstract

A comparison of the phase modulators made by Ti:LiNbO₃ and Ti:LiTaO₃ optical waveguides is presented. Of particular interest is their halfwave voltages at the wavelength 0.6328 μm and the frequency responses for the same electrode structure. For the Ti:LiNbO₃ phase modulator, a halfwave voltage of 6.6 V and a band-width of 13 GHz are obtained. Whereas, the Ti:LiTaO₃, a 6.8 V halfwave voltage and 12 GHz bandwidth are obtained.     

Radiation-damage-assisted ferroelectric domain structuring in magnesium-doped lithium niobate

Irradiation of 5% magnesium-doped lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO₃:Mg) with high-energy, low-mass ³He ions, which are transmitted through the crystal, changes the domain reversal properties of the material. This enables easier domain engineering compared to non-irradiated material and assists the formation of small-sized periodically poled domains in LiNbO₃:Mg. Periodic domain structures exhibiting a width of ≈520 nm are obtained in radiation-damaged sections of the crystals. The ferroelectric poling behavior between irradiated and non-treated material is compared.     

Endor for characterizing transition metal centres in LiNbO3

Abstract

ENDOR investigations show that in nearly stoichiometric LiNbO₃ Mn²⁺ substitutes for Li with a Li vacancy in the first Li shell for most centres. In heavily Mg codoped LiNbO₃ the Cr³⁺ dopant, characterized by a new isotropic ESR signal, is shown to substitute for Nb. Information on local disorder is obtained.