Metastable phases in proton-exchanged waveguides on an X cut of lithium niobate

The formation and decomposition of high-temperature phases in proton-exchanged waveguide layers of H_xLi_{1 ? x} NbO₃ on an X cut of lithium niobate are studied using IR spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. It is shown that the phase transitions that occur in the proton-exchanged layers between the high-temperature phases fixed by quenching from T = 200°C and the phase that is equilibrium at room temperature are accompanied by changes in the frequencies and integrated intensities of the spectral components of the absorption bands characterizing OH groups and hydrogen bonds in the crystal. These changes imply two paths of proton redistribution during these completely reversible phase transitions: (i) transfer of some protons from substitutional sites to interstitial sites and (ii) proton transfer between substitutional sites having different ionic environments. The phase transition from the phase that is equilibrium at room temperature into a high-temperature phase is found to be accompanied by a more than twofold increase in strain in the H_xLi_{1 ? x} NbO₃ layer lattice (x ≈ 0.50). The experimental data obtained confirm complete reversibility and the diffusionless character of these phase transitions.     

Light-enhanced electro-optic spectral tuning in annealed proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate channel waveguides

We report the observation of light-enhanced electro-optic spectral tuning in annealed proton-exchanged, asymmetric domain-duty-cycle periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) channel waveguides for second-harmonic generation. The spectral tuning rate was increased rapidly from 0.07 nm/(kV/mm) to a saturated value of 0.32 nm/(kV/mm) in a 30%/70% domain-duty-cycle PPLN waveguide when the fundamental pump power near 1534 nm was increased from 0.6 to 46 mW. The second-harmonic laser power at 767 nm was identified to be the source enhancing the spectral tuning.     

会聚激光扫描铌酸锂晶体写入光波导时的最佳曝光间距

对利用激光精细加工技术在铌酸锂(LiNbO₃)晶体中写入光波导时的最佳曝光间距进行了详细地理论分析和实验研究.通过数值求解简化后的光折变动力学方程组，对会聚激光束沿不同方向扫描晶体时的最佳曝光间距进行了详细的数值模拟.结果表明：最佳曝光间距的选取与写入光束的扫描方向无关；当聚焦激光束平行于光轴扫描晶体时，得不到波导结构，但可以采用“三明治”辐照方式得到对称的折射率分布.采用会聚的绿激光束扫描掺铁铌酸锂(LiNbO₃：Fe)晶体进行了实验研究，晶体中的光致折射率变 关键词： 激光精细加工 最佳曝光间距 光波导 3晶体')" href="#">LiNbO₃晶体     

铌酸锂晶体中的磁光折变效应研究

对于掺铁铌酸锂晶体中不同全息记录配置下的磁光折变效应做了比较系统的理论分析，给出了铌酸锂晶体所有的磁光生伏打非零张量元. 详细计算并给出了不同全息纪录配置下的所有体光生伏打、磁光生伏打电流的解析形式. 理论结果表明，由于磁光生伏打效应引起了光激发电流的变化，所以对于每种配置全息光栅的衍射效率都会受到外加磁场的影响；对于不同的全息记录配置，磁场对铌酸锂晶体光折变非线性性质的影响也不同.讨论了一种确定特定张量元的方法. 关键词： 磁光生伏打 磁光折变效应 光生伏打     

Singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We report quasi-phase-matched singly resonant optical parametric oscillation in electric-field-poled lithium niobate waveguides. Parametric gains as high as 250%/W, an oscillation threshold of 1.6 W (peak), idler output powers of 220 mW, and a tuning range of 1180-2080 nm for pump wavelengths of 756-772 nm have been observed. Pump depletion is limited to 40% because of the multiple launched transverse modes at the pump wavelength. We predict that fully optimized waveguide singly resonant oscillators can have thresholds of ~100 mW, accessible to cw diode pumping.     

Direct ultraviolet writing of channel waveguides in congruent lithium niobate single crystals

We report the fabrication of optical channel waveguides in congruent lithium niobate single crystals by direct writing with continuous-wave ultraviolet frequency-doubled Ar+ laser radiation (244 nm). The properties and performance of such waveguides are investigated, and first results are presented.     

Simultaneously phase-matched second- and third-harmonic generation from 1.55 microm radiation in annealed proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

Third-harmonic generation (THG) in the cw regime from C-band radiation was achieved in annealed proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguides. By suitable design of fabrication parameters and operating conditions, quasi-phase-matching (QPM) is obtained simultaneously for the second-harmonic generation process (omega-->2omega, first-order QPM) and for the sum-frequency-generation process (omega+2omega-->3omega, third-order QPM), which provides the third harmonic of the pump field. The high overlap between the field profiles of the interacting modes--TM00 at omega and TM10 at 2omega and 3omega--results in what is believed to be the highest ever reported normalized conversion efficiency for THG from telecommunication wavelengths, equal to 0.72%W(-2) cm(-4).     

Influence of surroundings on photorefractive effect in lithium niobate crystals

In the paper results of the investigation of the influence of electric properties of the environment surrounding LiNbO₃ crystals on photorefractive effect induced in these crystals by Gaussian Ar⁺ laser beam with various intensities are presented. We show spatial and temporal dependences of changes of the refractive index obtained experimentally in LiNbO₃: Fe and LiNbO₃: Fe:Mn samples surrounded by media with different electric conductivities and different permittivities (water, air, water solution of CaCl₂). The space and time dependences of the refractive index changes induced by the Ar⁺ laser beam are observed by means of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer using light from HeNe laser. The experimentally obtained results are in a good agreement with those following from numerical calculations using the manifold mirroring method. The agreement between calculated and experimental results indicates that the polarization charge at the photorefractive crystal/surrounding medium boundary significantly influences the photorefractive process in the crystal. The experimentally observed slow spontaneous decrease of the refractive index change in a sample placed into a slightly conducting medium (air) after switching off the beam also indicates that the polarization charge in the sample's surroundings affects the photorefraction.     

Two-dimensional photonic and phononic crystals based on lithium niobate

Specific features of the preparation and application of photonic and phononic crystals containing two-dimensional periodic domain structures are considered. Particular attention is given to the formation of two-dimensional periodic domain structures in oxide ferroelectrics using strongly focused laser beams. Specific features of the nonlinear properties of such two-dimensional structures during the propagation of optical and acoustic beams through them are described.     

Narrow-linewidth near-degenerate optical parametric generation achieved with quasi-group-velocity-matching in lithium niobate waveguides

We demonstrate narrow-linewidth near-degenerate optical parametric generation in reverse-proton-exchange lithium niobate waveguides with quasi-group-velocity-matching, which is realized by using wavelength-selective directional couplers and tight-radius bends. With appropriate designs for 1.6 ps long pump pulses at 785.1 nm we obtained near-degenerate signal (idler) pulses with a time-bandwidth product as low as 1.1, compared with 10.5 for conventional devices without quasi-group-velocity-matching. This improvement in the temporal property is a result of both a pulse compression effect and a filter effect coming from our scheme of quasi-group-velocity-matching.     

Frequency-doubling in self-induced waveguides in lithium niobate

Efficient frequency-doubling is experimentally demonstrated in presence of beam self-trapping in congruent lithium niobate crystal. The self-trapping is induced by the generated second harmonic beam via photorefractive effect under an external applied field. The local space charge field distribution, formed by the second harmonic beam, is shown to efficiently trap both wavelengths. The dynamics of self-focusing is studied along with the power evolution of the second harmonic beam. Fast tuning of phase matching conditions in the written waveguide is realized by an externally applied voltage also used for the photorefractive confinement.     

Nonlinear optical waveguides generated in lithium niobate by swift-ion irradiation at ultralow fluences

A novel method to produce optical waveguides is demonstrated for lithium niobate (LiNbO(3)). It is based on electronic excitation damage by swift ions, i.e., with energies at approximately 1 MeV/amu or above. The new technique uses high-energy medium-mass ions, such as Cl, with electronic stopping powers above the threshold value for amorphization (5-6 keV/nm), reaching the maximum value a few micrometers inside the crystal. At the ultralow fluence regime (10(12)-10(13) cm(-2)) an effective nanostructured medium is obtained that behaves as an optical waveguide where light propagates transversally to the amorphous nanotracks created by every single impact. The method implies a reduction of 4 orders of magnitude with respect to He implantation. The optical waveguides present reasonable losses (~10 dB/cm) and significant second-harmonic generation (SHG) and electro-optic (EO) responses (>50% bulk) for the lowest fluences.     

Ultraviolet quasi-phase-matched second harmonic generation in surface periodically poled lithium niobate optical waveguides

The compatibility of low concentration (α-phase) proton exchange channel waveguides with electric field surface periodic poling of congruent lithium niobate (SPPLN) crystals has been experimentally demonstrated. With such waveguides, we obtained ultraviolet second harmonic generation (SHG) by first order quasi-phase-matching (QPM), a result made possible by the fabrication, on Z-cut LN crystals, of periodic structures with a pitch down to 750 nm. Nonlinear copropagating QPM-SHG measurements have been carried out on such structures. The pump source was a Ti:sapphire laser with a tunability range of 700–980 nm and a 40 GHz linewidth. We have measured UV continuous wave light at 390 nm by means of a lock-in amplifier and a photodiode with an enhanced response in the UV. The measured conversion efficiency was about 1% W^?1 cm^?2.     

Photoelectric fields in lithium niobate crystals

Photovoltaic and diffusion fields in nominally pure single crystals of stoichiometric composition (R = Li/Nb = 1) grown in the presence of 6 wt% K₂O flux (LiNbO₃ stoich. K₂O) in nominally pure single crystals of complementary composition (LiNbO₃), complementary single crystals doped with Zn²⁺, Er³⁺ at wavelength of 476, 514.5, 530 nm are defined according to parameters of photo induced light scattering indicatrix. Photo induced changes of crystals’ refractive index are defined.     

Femtosecond holography in lithium niobate crystals

Spatial gratings are recorded holographically by two femtosecond pump pulses at 388 nm in lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystals and read out by a Bragg-matched, temporally delayed probe pulse at 776 nm. We claim, to our knowledge, the first holographic pump-probe experiments with subpicosecond temporal resolution for LiNbO3. An instantaneous grating that is due mostly to the Kerr effect as well as a long-lasting grating that results mainly from the absorption caused by photoexcited carriers was observed. The Kerr coefficient of LiNbO3 for our experimental conditions, i.e., pumped and probed at different wavelengths, was approximately 1.0 x 10(-5) cm2/GW.     

Compositional characterisation of Zn-diffused lithium niobate waveguides

Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and secondary-ion mass spectrometry techniques have been used to investigate the two-step process involved during waveguide fabrication in LiNbO₃ using Zn-vapour diffusion. Compositional analysis (O, Nb, Li and Zn) in the two steps has been characterised. RBS analysis reveals that the first step, involving a heating of the substrate under a metallic Zn atmosphere, gives rise to a partial exchange between the Nb and Li ions from the crystals and the Zn from the vapour source. The second treatment at higher temperature in an open atmosphere diffuses the Zn deeper into the substrate, thus forming an optical waveguide, while the Nb and Li ions recover their bulk values. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 7 September 2001 / Published online: 30 October 2001     

Micro-Raman analysis of Fe-diffused lithium niobate waveguides

The photorefractive properties of LiNbO₃ are closely related to the defect structure which strongly depends on the conditions of sample preparation. By means of micro-Raman scattering measurements we investigate the influence of the thermal treatment in the preparation of Fe-diffused waveguides. We underline the role of intrinsic defects and discuss the mechanism of incorporation of iron in the lattice. We especially emphasize the specific role of three phonon modes which are able to separately probe the Li, Nb or O sublattice.     

掺镁铌酸锂质子交换光波导光学性能的研究

本文用质子交换反应在5mol％MgO:LiNbO_3晶体中引起了e光折射率的增加,晶体中MgO的存在并不影响LiNbO_3质子交换光波导阶跃型折射率分布的特点。用常规的质子交换法制备的MgO:LiNb·O_3波导存在着损耗大和有效折射率不稳定的缺点,经过退火处理后,这些缺点可明显地得到改善。     

Low-loss chalcogenide waveguides on lithium niobate for the mid-infrared

We demonstrate low-loss chalcogenide (As(2)S(3)) waveguides on a LiNbO(3) substrate for the mid-IR wavelength (4.8 μm). Designed for single-mode propagation, they are fabricated through photolithography and dry-etching technology and characterized on a mid-IR measurement setup with a quantum cascade laser. For straight waveguides, propagation loss as low as 0.33 dB/cm is measured and low-loss bends on the order of 100 μm are simulated, with measurement results showing <3 dB for a 250 μm bend radius. The coupling efficiency is estimated to be 81%. In addition, the influences of variations in width and bend radius are also investigated.     

Photorefraction of molybdenum-doped lithium niobate crystals

Molybdenum-doped lithium niobate crystals were grown under different polarization conditions and their holographic properties were investigated. In contrast to current dopants, hexavalent molybdenum prefers niobium sites. Thereby, holographic storage becomes possible from the ultraviolet to the visible with considerably lower response time. The response time of 0.5 mol. % Mo-doped LiNbO(3) can be especially shortened to as small as 0.35 s with a still high saturation diffraction efficiency of about 60% at 351 nm. Molybdenum-doped lithium niobate thus is a promising candidate for all-color holographic storage applications.