Design of tunable asymmetric directional coupler filter using periodically segmented Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides

A tunable wavelength filter is designed using Ti:LiNbO₃ asymmetric directional coupler. One arm of the directional coupler is made of continuous waveguide while the other arm is periodic segmented. This segmentation reduces the lithographic steps and hence the fabrication cost required for such asymmetric coupler based filter. The propagation constant of periodical segmented and continuous waveguides are analysed using Effective-Index-based Matrix Method. The tunability is achieved using electro-optic property of LiNbO₃.     

Generation of tunable green radiation in bulk periodically poled KTiOPO4

We report a characterisation of a flux-grown periodically poled KTiOPO₄ crystal used for second-harmonic generation in a diode laser source, that operates with fundamental radiation tunable around 1083 nm wavelength. The conversion efficiency is measured for the three different grating periods of the crystal, as a function of input wavelength, crystal temperature and fundamental power. The measurements were fitted to the theoretical model of Boyd and Kleinman for frequency conversion of focused Gaussian beams. This enabled us to determine the temperature and wavelength dependence of the difference in refractive index between the interacting waves.     

Widely tunable high power OPO based on a periodically poled MgO doped lithium niobate crystal

An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a highly MgO doped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPMgLN) crystal was experimentally demonstrated and the result is presented in this report. The PPMgLN wafer was fabricated from a MgO doped (with 6 mol% doping concentration) lithium niobate crystal by means of high voltage pulse trigged domain reversal technique and has 20 domain reversal periods from 27.8 to with a step of between the neighbor periods. An acousto-optic (AO) Q-switched Nd³⁺:YVO₄ laser was used as the pumping laser. A maximum laser output power of 4.8 W has been achieved for the OPO when the pumping power is 10.8 W and it corresponds to an optic-optic conversion efficiency of 44%. By shifting the PPMgLN wafer, the periods of the domain structure on the PPMgLN wafer can be changed, thus enabling a wide spectral tuning range of the laser output from 1.42 to (for the signal light) and from 2.76 to (for the idler light).     

Mid-infrared generation based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 optical parametric oscillator

We report a nanosecond Nd:YVO_4-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled LiNbO_3 (PPLN). Tuning is achieved in this experiment by varying the temperature and period of the PPLN. The design of double-pass singly resonant oscillator (DSRO) and confocal cavity enables the OPO threshold to be lowered considerably, resulting in a simple, compact, all-solid-state configuration with the mid-infrared idler powers of up to 466mW at 3.41μm.     

Effects of forming gas annealing on LiNbO3 single crystals

Z-cut congruent LiNbO₃ single crystals were annealed in 95%N₂+5%H₂ at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction showed that 2θ of (0 0 0 6) peak is obviously reduced by 0.6° and 1.0° for the samples annealed at 600 and 900 °C, respectively. A new peak appears at the high-energy side of O 1s spectrum in X-ray photoelelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, and the leakage current is greatly increased. It is proposed that hydrogen is incorporated in LiNbO₃ single crystals through forming gas annealing at temperatures up to 900 °C and exists in LiNbO₃ as a proton bound to an oxygen ion through O-H bond with its electron donated.     

Investigation of nonvolatile holographic storage in LiNbO3:Mn:Ce:Fe crystal

We investigate the persistent holographic recording in triply doped LiNbO₃:Mn:Ce:Fe crystals at different oxidation/reduction states. The experimental results show that there is an optimum oxidation/reduction state, which results in the best dynamic range M/#. Compared with doubly doped LiNbO₃:Ce:Fe, we found that the nonvolatile diffraction efficiency and the best dynamic range M/# obtained in triply doped samples are larger than that obtained in doubly doped samples. The reason for the increase of the crystal about the nonvolatile diffraction efficiency and the dynamic range M/# was also explained.     

Morphology of ablation craters generated by fs laser pulses in LiNbO3

The surface morphology of the ablation craters generated in LiNbO₃ by 130 fs laser pulses at 800 nm has been investigated by AFM/SNOM microscopy. The single pulse fluence corresponding to the ablation threshold has been estimated to be ≈1.8 J/cm².A complex structure including random cone-shaped protrusions is observed inside the ablated crater. The scale of the protrusion spacing is in the submicron range and the heights are typically of a few tens of nanometers. At and outside the crater rim a novel quasi-periodic wave-like topography pattern is observed in both types of microscopy techniques. The average wavelength, that is slightly dependent on pulse fluence, is (500-800 nm) comparable to the light wavelength. This novel topography feature keeps a close similarity with a Fresnel diffraction pattern by an absorbing circular obstacle or impact wave pattern produced by a combination of heat and shock wave (resemble that of impact crater). It is proposed that the obstacle is associated to the strongly nonlinear multiphoton absorption at the peak of the pulse profile. The energy deposited by nonlinear absorption of such profile causes ablation of both the crater and the rippled structure.     

Theoretical explanation of g factors for Ti ions in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 crystals

The EPR g factors g_// and g_⊥ for Ti³⁺ ions at the trigonal octahedral Li⁺ sites of LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ crystals are calculated from the third-order perturbation formulas of g factors for 3d¹ ion in trigonal symmetry. In the calculations, the crystal-field parameters are obtained from the structural data by using the superposition model. The calculated values are in reasonable agreement with the observed values. The results are discussed.     

Spectroscopic analysis of Er transition in Mg/Er-codoped LiNbO3 crystal

We present a Judd-Ofelt spectroscopic analysis on the Mg/Er-codoped congruent lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) crystals. The Judd-Ofelt model is applied to the room temperature unpolarized absorption intensities of Er³⁺ ions on eleven transition bands to determine their intensity parameters: Ω₂=2.36×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₄=0.76×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₆=0.30×10⁻²⁰ cm² in Er:LiNbO₃ crystal heavily codoped with MgO. The radiative lifetime of ²H_9/2 becomes longer when MgO is added into Er:LiNbO₃ crystal. The experimental lifetimes are obtained using microsecond time-resolved spectra at 400 nm femtosecond pulse excitation to predict radiative quantum efficiency. Combining higher radiative quantum efficiency with longer radiative lifetime, we conclude that Mg/Er-codoped LiNbO₃ crystals are more suitable than Er: LiNbO₃ ones in laser materials.     

Theoretical expression for change of extraordinary refractive index in annealed proton exchanged LiNbO3 optical waveguides

A general expression for the change in extraordinary refractive index of the annealed proton exchanged LiNbO₃ waveguide has been deduced. The expression deduced explains the experimental results of decrease in change of extraordinary refractive index with annealing. The effect of annealing time has also been incorporated following Cao's model (Cao, Ramaswamy, Srivastava, J. Lightwave Technol. 10 (1992) 1302–1313). The concentration profile of protons in the annealed waveguide has been deduced theoretically, which is consistent with the previous results. The spontaneous polarization has been considered as the central mechanism for change in extraordinary refractive index due to proton exchange with annealing.     

飞秒激光制作铌酸锂光波导的研究

针对Z切割铌酸锂晶体在中心波长为800 nm、重复频率为76 MHz的飞秒脉冲激光下,利用放大倍数为40、数值孔径为0.65的会聚透镜聚焦,研究了扫描速度和扫描次数的变化对刻写光波导结构的影响,分析了波导结构变化的原因,并测试了1×2光波导功分器的通光性能.实验结果表明:在采用横向扫描、聚焦深度为350~400 μm、扫描速度为100 μm/s和激光功率为250 mW时,获得较理想的铌酸锂光波导,1×2光波导功分器的输出功率分布基本达到均分.     

Investigation of quasi lateral-field-excitation on (yxl)-17° LiNbO3 single crystal

Quasi lateral-field-excitation (LFE) on LiNbO₃ crystal is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. It is found that when the driving electric field direction is parallel to the crystallographic X-axis of the piezoelectric substrate, (yxl)-17° LiNbO₃ LFE bulk acoustic wave devices work on quasi-LFE mode. The experimental results agreed with the theoretical prediction well. The results provide the cut of LiNbO₃ crystal for quasi-LFE bulk acoustic wave devices, which is important for designing high performance LFE sensors on LiNbO₃ substrates.     

Surface plasmon enhanced ultra-low threshold second harmonic generation in periodically poled whispering gallery resonator

The surface plasmon enhanced ultra-low threshold second harmonic generation is observed, designed and simulated in whispering gallery resonator made of MgO doped periodically poled LiNbO₃. Here the electric field associated with incident optical radiation of picowatt level is amplified to milliwatt level through surface plasmon resonance in Kretschmann geometry which is formed by a BK₇ prism plane, 29 nm thin gold layer and 20 nm thin GaAs layer. This enhanced electric field then coupled to a whispering gallery resonator, which facilitated the generation of second harmonic for an incident laser radiation of picowatt level. In this proposed configuration with an incident optical power of 94.6 pW, generated second harmonic through whispering gallery resonator is found to be 14.6 mW.     

飞秒激光刻写1×4铌酸锂光波导功分器的研究

采用一种以五次幂函数为基础所设计的1×4光波导功分器路径,利用中心波长为800 nm、重复频率为75 MHz的飞秒脉冲激光为光源,通过控制三位电动平移台,在Z切割铌酸锂晶体进行横向扫描此路径,在激光功率为270 mW和扫描速度为0.05 mm/s下,制备出1×4光波导功分器,分析了改变扫描速度和扫描次数对波导形成的影响,以及波导形成的原因.实验结果表明:在强激光的各种参量一定时,扫描速度越小,扫描次数越多,波导线宽越大,扫描速度在一定范围内时,波导损耗较低.     

Deposition of ZnO multilayer on LiNbO3 single crystals by DC-magnetron sputtering

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on LiNbO₃ (LN) single crystals with 200 nm thicknesses by three different ways, where coating of zinc (Zn) film was followed by thermal oxidation for four, two, and one steps with 50, 100, and 200 nm thicknesses repeatedly. Sample, which was produced at 4-step of deposition and oxidation of Zn layer, showed high transmittance and low structural defect due to a lower photoluminescence intensity and Urbach energy. Average grain size in X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images for multilayer of ZnO was lower than monolayer of ZnO thin films. Applying multilayer coating technique leads to decrease of surface roughness and scattering on light on surface and fabrication of LiNbO₃ waveguides with lower optical loss.     

Forced oscillator model of dynamic spatial charge field in the reduced Zn:Fe:LiNbO3 crystal

Holographic data storage is promised to be the next-generation optical storage technology for many years. The Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystal is studied widely because of its promising holographic storage properties. The forced oscillator model is used to explain the self-erasing phenomenon in the reduced Zn:Fe:LiNbO₃ crystals. It is showed that the total spatial charge field is dominated by two kinds of carrier with different respond time, which are electron and hole, respectively. The cooperative action of two kinds carrier induces that the total charge field non-monotonically varies with the recording time. The same diffraction efficiency of hologram with equal exposure energy is realized by the self-erasing property. The precision of the optical correlation recognition based on holographic storage will be improved.     

Graphene/LiNbO3 surface acoustic wave device based relative humidity sensor

This study described relative humidity (RH) sensing using a graphene/128° YX LiNbO₃ surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. The resonant frequency of the device decreased in a two-stage manner as the RH increased. For a low RH range (RH < 50%), a frequency downshift of 1.38 kHz per 1% RH change was observed. This was attributed to mass loading of the SAW propagation surface due to the adsorption of water molecules by the graphene surface. For a high RH range (RH > 50%), a frequency downshift of 2.6 kHz per 1% RH change was obtained, which was due to the change in elastic grapheme properties. The mass loading effect of the water layer was less effective at high temperature, resulting in a lower temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF).     

White light interferometry test and analysis of LiNbO3 polarizer

White light interferometer can be used to measure the amplitude extinction ratio (ER) of polarizer and coupling distribution in fiber. A LiNbO₃ polarizer coupled with a polarization maintaining fiber and a silica planar waveguide at the two ends was measured using white light interferometer. According to the principles of optical coherence domain polarimeter (OCDP) technique, the test scheme is analyzed and presented to measure the ER of LiNbO₃ polarizer with its apparatus proposed correspondingly. By analyzing the interference intensity, both the ER of LiNbO₃ polarizer and its coupling crosstalk with optical fiber and waveguide are obtained. The results illustrate that the ER of a 5 mm-long LiNbO₃ polarizer is 71 dB and the crosstalk of the coupling points are around 40 dB. The results have good agreement with analysis.     

Study of near-infrared nonvolatile two-center holographic recording in LiNbO3:Fe:Rh crystal

The near-infrared nonvolatile holographic recording has been realized in a doubly doped LiNbO₃:Fe:Rh crystal by the traditional two-center holographic recording scheme, for the first time. The recording performance of this crystal has been investigated by recording with 633 nm red light, 752 nm red light and 799 nm near-infrared light and sensitizing with 405 nm purple light. The experimental results show that, co-doped with Fe and Rh, the near-infrared absorption and the photovoltaic coefficient of shallow trap Fe are enhanced in this LiNbO₃:Fe:Rh crystal, compared with other doubly doped LiNbO₃ crystals such as LiNbO₃:Fe:Mn. It is also found that the sensitizing light intensity affects the near-infrared recording sensitivity in a different way than two-center holographic recording with shorter wavelength, and the origin of experimental results is analyzed.     

Low-pump-threshold tunable optical parametric oscillator using periodically poled MgO:LiNbO3

We fabricated and characterized periodically poled MgO:LiNbO₃ device with five gratings in 0.5 μm increments from 29 μm to 31 μm for optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO operation threshold is 30 μJ using this device with a 50 mm effective length. At 560 mW input pump power, we have achieved 300 mW of the total output power, and the conversion efficiency is 54%. Multi-periods and temperatures tuning of the OPO yields a signal wavelength range from 1.45 to 1.72 μm and an idler wavelength range from 2.8 to 4.05 μm in the mid infrared.