Surface-emitted terahertz-wave generation by ridged periodically poled lithium niobate and enhancement by mixing of two terahertz waves

Surface-emitted terahertz- (THz-) wave generation by difference-frequency mixing with ridge-shaped periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) was demonstrated. The PPLN had a ridge height of 300 microm, a thickness of 20 microm, and an interaction length of 35 mm. The ridge behaves as a slab waveguide for optical pump beams. The PPLN gives rise to THz waves in opposite directions, perpendicular to the pump-beam direction. Reflecting the THz wave on one side and overlapping it with the THz wave on the other side increased the total THz-wave intensity approximately 2.7 times compared with that without reflection and mixing.     

Ultrabroadband tunable continuous-wave difference-frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

We report, for what is the first time to our knowledge, widely tunable mid-IR light generation over a range of greater than 1000 nm in the 4 microm region by employing a single quasi-phase-matched periodically poled niobate waveguide at room temperature. The waveguide we used was fabricated by annealed proton exchange based on periodically poled lithium niobate. A peak conversion efficiency of 10%/W and a linewidth as small as 37 MHz were achieved. The developed mid-IR light generator may find wide applications in trace gas detection of multiple atmospheric species and high-resolution spectroscopy.     

Analysis of THz-wave surface-emitted difference-frequency generation in periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

It was shown that the periodically poled LiNbO₃-waveguide with period of poling λ≈λ/n_g (λ is the wavelength of emitted THz-wave, n_g is a refractive index corresponding to optical group velocity) emits THz-wave difference-frequency generation (DFG) in the direction normal to the surface of the planar waveguide. The 5% distinction between the manufactured and required periods of gratings results only in a small deflection (∼6°) of the output THz-beam from the normal direction. The dependence of DFG efficiency on mode size is analyzed. The output THz power at λ=150 μm is estimated as 2 mW, taking into account imperfections in coupling incident beams with guided modes. It was shown that the efficiency of THz-wave DFG in surface-emitting geometry is more than for collinear geometry in bulk crystal, especially in the high-absorption wavelength region. Received: 16 May 2001 / Revised version: 13 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001     

Tunable terahertz-wave generation from DAST crystal by dual signal-wave parametric oscillation of periodically poled lithium niobate

The first known demonstration of tunable terahertz-wave generation by difference-frequency generation of dual signal-wave quasi-phase-matched optical parametric oscillation was performed with periodically poled LiNbO(3) (PPLN) with a series of gratings. An organic ionic salt, 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium-tosylate (DAST), was used as a nonlinear crystal. A compact terahertz-wave source resulted, and changing the temperature of the PPLN permitted the wavelength to be varied from 120 to 160 mum. The wavelength could be tuned from 100 to 700 mum by proper selection of combinations of periodically poled gratings.     

42%-efficient single-pass cw second-harmonic generation in periodically poled lithium niobate

We present a full-wafer fabrication process for periodically poled lithium niobate with a 6.5-mum domain period. Samples that were 53 mm long and 0.5 mm thick were obtained with this process for single-pass cw 1064-nm Nd:YAG second-harmonic generation. These samples exhibited 78% of the ideal nonlinear coefficient, had a measured conversion efficiency of 8.5% /W in the low-power limit, and produced 2.7 W of cw 532-nm output with 6.5 W of cw input, which corresponds to 42% power conversion efficiency.     

Diffusion-bonded stacks of periodically poled lithium niobate

We constructed diffusion-bonded stacks of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). Such crystals combine the advantages of planar processing used to make PPLN wafers with the power-handling capability of large apertures. We demonstrated an optical parametric oscillator that uses a 3-mm-thick diffusion-bonded stack consisting of three 1-mm-thick PPLN crystals.     

Low-voltage tunable second-harmonic generation in an x-cut periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

We report a new method of tuning the second-harmonic signal generated in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide. This technique relies on the recent progress in the fabrication of PPLNs on x-cut substrates along with periodical coplanar electrodes to reduce the tuning voltage while preserving the conversion efficiency. Our scheme exploits a type I interaction implemented in a titanium waveguide to impede cancellation of the electro-optical coefficients and to minimize the group-velocity mismatch between the first- and second-harmonic modes. The tuning range covers 58 nm with an applied voltage of +/-150 V.     

Photon pair generation in lithium niobate waveguide periodically poled by femtosecond laser

Reliable generation of single photons is of key importance for fundamental physical experiments and quantum protocols.The periodically poled lithium niobate [LN) waveguide has shown promise for an integrated quantum source due to its large spectral tunability and high efficiency, benefiting from the quasi-phase-matching. Here we demonstrate photon-pair sources based on an LN waveguide periodically poled by a tightly focused femtosecond laser beam. The pair coincidence rate reaches ～8000 counts p...     

Three-wavelength generation from cascaded wavelength conversion in monolithic periodically poled lithium niobate

Tunable coherent emission is generated in a single-pass,cascaded wavelength conversion process from mode-locked laser-pumped monolithic periodically poled lithium niobate(PPLN).Three ranges of wavelength,including visible output from 628 nm to 639 nm,near-infrared output from 797 nm to 816 nm,and mid-infrared output from 3167 nm to 3459 nm,were obtained from the monolithic PPLN,which consists of a 10-mm section for 532-nm-pumped optical parametric generation(OPG)and a 7-mm section for 1064-nm-pumped sum frequency generation(SFG).A pump-to-signal conversion efficiency of 23.4%for OPG at 50°C and a quantum efficiency of 26.2%for SFG at 200°C were obtained.     

High-temperature-recorded index gratings in periodically poled lithium niobate

Holographic index gratings based on a zero-electric-field photorefractive effect are recorded at high temperatures in copper-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystals. The interplay between the domain structure and the index grating is studied: the fundamental grating with spatial frequency K is strongly suppressed. Pronounced sideband gratings with K(s)=K+sG appear, where G is the domain grating vector and s is an integer number. After development, an additional grating based on the electro-optic effect shows up. In contrast with the previously mentioned gratings, this grating allows anisotropic diffraction.     

Nonlinear directional coupler in periodically poled lithium niobate

Nonlinear wave propagation was investigated experimentally in coupled waveguides by means of the cascaded nonlinearity in quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic generation. With a specially designed wave-vector-mismatch distribution along the propagation axis, cascading was optimized for low fundamental depletion. High-contrast, ultrafast all-optical switching with switching powers of tens of watts was observed.     

Multiband generation of mid infrared by use of periodically poled lithium niobate

We report the generation of simultaneous multiband mid-infrared laser output by use of periodically polled lithium niobate pumped by the 1.54-microm output from a KTP optical parametric oscillator. The multiband source is capable of producing three mid-infrared wavelengths ranging from 2.5 to 4microm . In initial experiments we obtained output powers of 542 mW near 2.5microm and 453 mW near 4microm , with power conversion efficiencies of 30% and 25%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of this kind in the literature.     

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.     

Narrow-band terahertz wave generation and detection in one periodically poled lithium niobate crystal

In this article, we present studies on therahertz (THz) wave generation and frequency up-conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. A frequency at 1.37 THz was generated as femtosecond pump pulses passed through a PPLN crystal with grating periods of 30 μm. The pump-induced THz wave interacts with the probe wave in the crystal by frequency mixing. The frequency up-converted THz wave is easily detected by a normal photodiode. A new scheme for generation and detection of THz wave in one non-linear crystal was proposed.     

Self-optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled neodymium-doped lithium niobate

Self-optical parametric oscillation is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge in a periodically poled neodymium-doped lithium niobate (Nd:PPLN) crystal. The crystal is pumped by a cw Ti:sapphire laser at 813.5 nm. The Nd(3+) ions absorb the 813.5-nm radiation to generate 1084-nm laser oscillation. The internally Q switched 1084-nm radiation pumps the periodically poled lithium niobate host matrix to generate optical parametric oscillation at 1.55 and 3.6 microm . Up to 24% conversion efficiency from laser to signal is observed.     

Electro-optic Solc-type wavelength filter in periodically poled lithium niobate

We demonstrate an electro-optic Solc-type wavelength filter in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). A Solc-type transmission spectrum is observed experimentally in PPLN with four periods from 20.2 to 20.8 microm. Modulation of the transmission power of the filter is realized by application of electric fields along the Y axis of the PPLN. It is observed that the wavelength can also be tuned by temperature.     

Low-threshold spatial solitons in reverse-proton-exchanged periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides

Combining reverse proton exchange and uniform periodic poling in LiNbO3 planar waveguides, we demonstrate low-energy spatial optical solitons by second-harmonic generation at room temperature, with a threshold as low as 23 pJ/microm at 1.5 microm.     

Observation of quadratic spatial solitons in periodically poled lithium niobate

We report what are to our knowledge the first observation and characterization of quadratic spatial solitons in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). Using a Nd:YAG (1064-nm) source, we observed self-trapped solitary-wave propagation over more than six diffraction lengths as a result of the cascaded quadratic nonlinear process. Low-threshold operation (5-kW peak power) was measured for the quasi-phase-matched PPLN structure designed for frequency doubling.     

周期极化LiNbO3脉冲走离效应分析

 建立了包含高阶群速色散的OPCPA 数值模拟程序，并以准相位匹配的周期极化的LiNbO₃(PPLN)参量放大器为例，在信号光是中心波长1 053 nm，脉宽100 fs的飞秒脉冲经展宽器展宽800 ps的啁啾脉冲，输入能量约0.6 nJ，泵浦光波长527 nm，脉宽3 ns，初始输入泵浦光强300 MW/cmLiNbO²，PPLN晶体的非共线角1.49°，极化周期9.7 μm的条件下， 对OPCPA过程前级的高阶群速色散引起的走离效应对泵浦光、信号光频谱和脉冲形状的影响等具体特性进行了数值模拟。结果表明：在合适的晶体长度下，高阶群速色散对参量转换效率的影响不大，但它对输出信号光的时间波形和频谱有较大影响，会引起脉冲时间形状畸变和频谱漂移。     

周期极化LiNbO3脉冲走离效应分析

建立了包含高阶群速色散的OPCPA 数值模拟程序,并以准相位匹配的周期极化的LiNbO3(PPLN)参量放大器为例,在信号光是中心波长1 053 nm,脉宽100 fs的飞秒脉冲经展宽器展宽800 ps的啁啾脉冲,输入能量约0.6 nJ,泵浦光波长527 nm,脉宽3 ns,初始输入泵浦光强300 MW/cmLiNbO2,PPLN晶体的非共线角1.49°,极化周期9.7 μm的条件下, 对OPCPA过程前级的高阶群速色散引起的走离效应对泵浦光、信号光频谱和脉冲形状的影响等具体特性进行了数值模拟。结果表明：在合适的晶体长度下,高阶群速色散对参量转换效率的影响不大,但它对输出信号光的时间波形和频谱有较大影响,会引起脉冲时间形状畸变和频谱漂移。