Surface-emitted terahertz-wave difference-frequency generation in two-dimensional periodically poled lithium niobate

We report on the demonstration of surface-emitted terahertz- (THz-) wave difference-frequency generation from two-dimensional (2D) periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). The two orthogonal periodic structures individually compensate for both the phase mismatch of the launched lasers and the generated THz wave. Tunable 1.5-1.8 THz wave generation with a bandwidth of 10-GHz was obtained by use of two 2D PPLN crystals. We also confirmed that THz waves were simultaneously generated into two opposite directions, which suggests the possibility of higher THz-wave output power.     

Liquid crystal deposition on poled, single crystalline lithium niobate

For the purpose of elucidating the mechanisms for molecular organization at poled ferroelectric surfaces, single crystalline lithium niobate (LN), ‘Z-cut’ along the (0 0 0 1) plane, has been prepared and characterized and subsequently exposed to liquid crystal molecules. As a model system we chose to study the anchoring of 4-n-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) to LN. Liquid crystalline films are of interest because of their useful electronic and optical properties as well as chemical sensing attributes. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface contact angle measurements (CA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the surface of lithium niobate as well as the nature of 8CB films grown on the surface. Atomically flat LN surfaces were prepared as a support for monolayer thick, 8CB molecular domains. 8CB liquid crystal molecules were deposited by an ambient vaporization technique and the films were analyzed using XPS and CA. Understanding electrostatic anchoring mechanisms and thin film organization for this molecule on uniformly poled surfaces allows for a fuller appreciation of how molecular deposition of other polarizable molecules on periodically poled and patterned poled lithium niobate surfaces would occur.     

二维LiNbO3非线性光子晶体

制备了周期为13.64 μm方形格子二维周期性极化的LiNbO3,利用二阶准相位匹配实现了波长为1.064μm二倍频,二次谐波的内部转换效率高达42%.测量了二次谐波输出功率随晶体温度及入射光入射方向的变化,实验值与模拟计算一致.制备二阶准相位匹配掩模板,解决了在制备一阶准相位匹配掩模板中遇到周期尺寸太小、数据量大的难题,同时还降低了因周期太小造成的极化难度.     

Broadband and lossless lithium niobate valley photonic crystal waveguide

We investigate the influences of structure parameters and interface shapes on the bandwidth of the edge state of lithium niobate valley photonic crystals.By inc...     

Switchable nonlinear two-dimensional ferroelectric photonic crystal

A two-dimensional photonic crystal with a system of electrodes providing interaction of the incident and transmitted light waves has been developed on the basis of an epitaxial ferroelectric BaSrTiO₃ film. Investigation of the spectral characteristics has revealed the presence of a photonic band gap near 1.5 eV. A possibility of spatial frequency reconstruction of the second-harmonic wave generated by the photonic crystal is shown. The switching efficiency is as high as 6000%.     

Cascaded optical parametric oscillation with a dual-grating periodically poled lithium niobate crystal

We demonstrate continuous-wave cascaded optical parametric oscillation in which the signal field of the primary parametric oscillator internally pumps the secondary parametric oscillator. Wavelength tuning is achieved with temperature tuning and a fan-out grating structure of a dual-grating periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. Above the secondary threshold the primary signal power is clamped, and all the other output powers increase linearly with the input pump power, in accordance with theory. Cascaded parametric oscillation offers a convenient and efficient way to generate multiple tunable outputs.     

Linear and nonlinear propagation of light beams in two-dimensional photorefractive photonic lattices formed in lithium niobate

Special features of linear and nonlinear propagation of coherent light beams in two-dimensional photorefractive photonic lattices optically induced in the lithium niobate crystal doped with iron are experimentally investigated. The two-dimensional gratings are formed by consecutive recording of two one-dimensional photorefractive gratings in the crystal. Experiments were performed using He-Ne laser irradiation with a wavelength of 633 nm. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 58–62, September, 2006.     

Light propagation in double-periodic nonlinear photonic lattices in lithium niobate

Single- and double-periodic one-dimensional photonic lattices are formed in lithium niobate using both titanium in-diffusion and holographic grating recording. We investigate linear band structures and diffraction properties of such superlattices and observe a decrease of discrete diffraction with increasing modulation depth of the second superimposed lattice. In weakly modulated superlattices with tailored diffraction properties, our results demonstrate the formation of discrete solitons having a propagation constant inside the extra mini-gap formed inside the Brillouin zone. PACS 42.65.Tg; 42.70.Qs; 42.82.Et     

Multi-wavelength photonic band gaps based on quasi-periodically poled lithium niobate ordered in Fibonacci sequences

We demonstrate a quasi-periodic structure exhibiting multiple photonic band gaps （PBGs） based on sub- micron-period poled lithium niobate （LN）. The structure consists of two building blocks, each containing a pair of antiparallel poled domains, arranged as a Fibonacci sequence. The gap wavelengths are analyzed with the Fibonacci sequence parameters such as the quasiperiodic indices and the average lattice parameter. The transmission properties are investigated by a traditional 4×4 matrix method. It has also been proved that the gap depth can be tuned by the lengths of poled domains.     

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.     

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.     

Purcell effect observation in erbium doped lithium niobate photonic crystal structures

In this study, we investigate the emission from a photonic crystal (PC) structure fabricated in Er-doped LiNbO₃ crystal. We report the linear, non-linear, and saturated output intensity as the pumping power is increased. The measurements are taken inside the PC and on the bulk substrate. Purcell effect can be observed in the experimental results in the presence of the PC.     

二维LiNbO3非线性光子晶体

制备了周期为13.64 μm方形格子二维周期性极化的LiNbO₃，利用二阶准相位匹 配实现了波长为1.064μm二倍频，二次谐波的内部转换效率高达42％. 测量了二次谐波输出功率随晶体温度及入射光入射方向的变化，实验值与模拟计算一致. 制备二阶准相位匹配掩模板，解决了在制备一阶准相位匹配掩模板中遇到周期尺寸太小、数据量大的难题，同时还降低了因周期太小造成的极化难度. 关键词： 二维 准相位匹配 二次谐波     

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.     

Multiple wavelength generation using aperiodically poled lithium niobate

We present a simple method to design aperiodically poled crystals to obtain multiple nonlinear optical processes simultaneously. We use this technique to design and make an aperiodically poled lithium niobate crystal with which we obtained eight distinct sum-frequency generation processes, and another sample with which we obtained four distinct optical parametric generation processes. We also show that the peak effective nonlinearities of aperiodic crystals designed with this technique are larger and their widths are narrower than what can be obtained with a crystal of the same length with separate sections with well-defined poling periodicities.     

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.     

Intensity modulation of light by light in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate crystal

In this Letter, we investigate a method for controlling the intensity of a light by another light in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate(PPMgLN) crystal with a transverse applied external electric field. The power of the emergent light can be modulated by the power ratio of the incident ordinary and extraordinary beams. The light intensity control is experimentally demonstrated by the Mach–Zehnder interference configuration, and the results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Tunable two-dimensional hexagonal phase array in domain-engineered Z-cut lithium niobate crystal

An optical phase array with tunable phase step is demonstrated. The phase array consists of a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of inverted ferroelectric domains fabricated on a Z-cut lithium niobate substrate. The electro-optically tunable phase step is obtained by the application of an external electric field along the z axis of the crystal via transparent electrodes. Theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented, showing that a tunable and flexible adaptive optical illuminator device can be realized by combining the electro-optic tunability with the Talbot effect. Generation of a multiplicity of light patterns is shown.     

Broadband and lossless lithium niobate valley photonic crystal waveguide [Invited]

We investigate the influences of structure parameters and interface shapes on the bandwidth of the edge state of lithium niobate valley photonic crystals. By increasing the size difference of two air holes in the same unit cell, we find that the bandwidth of the lossless nontrivial edge state possesses a peak value of 0.0201(a/λ), which can be used to construct broadband valley photonic crystal waveguides. Mode field distributions verify that the waveguide is robust against sharp bends and exhibits chirality. When the unit cell is arranged in a bearded interface with the top and bottom components showing negative and positive valley Chern numbers, respectively, we find that the lithium niobate valley photonic crystal is more likely to exhibit a lossless edge state, which is difficult to be realized in valley waveguides with low refractive index materials. This work can provide guidance on the design of the high-performance topological waveguide.     

Transmission characteristics simulation of an erbium-doped lithium niobate film photonic crystal slab

A photonic crystal slab (PhC slab) which was constructed as a 2D hexagonal lattice with a finite depth was etched into an Er:LiNbO₃ film waveguide. The band diagrams and transmission spectra were simulated by plane wave expansion (PWE) and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. A high refractive index contrast of 0.5 enables strong light confinement in the vertical direction and a broad band gap. The simulated transmittance spectra indicate that the stop band is determined by lattice constant. The transmission spectra along ΓM of the PhC slab with a lattice constant 500 nm show a 250-nm broad stop band in the wavelength range from 1.33 to 1.58 μm and sharp band edge.