Reduction of optical damage effects in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

Optical damage effects in electro-optic crystals such as LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ result from light-induced refractive index changes which bring about decollimation and scattering of light beams. The origin of the index changes is discussed. Although it is currently impossible to avoid undesired optical damage completely, various possibilities are proposed to reduce the effects.     

Laser induced memory bits in photorefractive LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

We study experimentally the formation of refractive index voxels (volume elements) in photorefractive LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ crystals illuminated with high irradiance femtosecond laser pulses. We used 150 fs pulses at 800 nm wavelength (energy 6–50 nJ) tightly focused inside the crystals in a single shot regime. This resulted in a formation of a micrometer size region of elevated refractive index, which may be used as memory bits in information storage/retrieval application. The maximum refractive index change of 5×10⁻⁴ was recorded in undoped LiNbO₃ at an average light intensity of ∼TW/cm² that is close to the breakdown threshold. A simple setup for photorefractive recording and in situ monitoring of the refractive index changes has been proposed. M. Sūdžius leaves from: the Institute of Materials Science and Applied Research of Vilnius University, Lithuania.     

An EXAFS study of dopant substitution in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

Abstract

We report an EXAFS study of Co and Fe doped LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃. Our results show that the dopant ions occupy Li sites in both materials.     

Chemically assisted femtosecond laser machining for applications in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

We introduce and optimize a fabrication procedure that employs both femtosecond laser machining and hydrofluoric acid etching for cutting holes or voids in slabs of lithium niobate and lithium tantalate. The fabricated structures have 3 μm lateral resolution, a lateral extent of at least several millimeters, and cut depths of up to 100 μm. Excellent surface quality is achieved by initially protecting the optical surface with a sacrificial silicon dioxide layer that is later removed during chemical etching. To optimize cut quality and machining speed, we explored various laser-machining parameters, including laser polarization, repetition rate, pulse duration, pulse energy, exposure time, and focusing, as well as scanning, protective coating, and etching procedures. The resulting structures significantly broaden the capabilities of terahertz polaritonics, in which lithium niobate and lithium tantalate are used for terahertz wave generation, imaging, and control. The approach should be applicable to a wide range of materials that are difficult to process by conventional methods.     

Non-equilibrium population and slow relaxation of Fe2+ in57Co:LiNbO3 and57Co:LiTaO3 single crystals

The Fe²⁺ fraction observed in the Mössbauer emission spectra of⁵⁷Co:LiNbO₃ and⁵⁷Co:LiTaO₃ exhibits both slow electronic relaxation and nonthermal populations of them _s sublevels of the⁵A_lg orbital singlet ground state at low temperatures (T<15 K) in high magnetic fields. The relaxation rates depend on temperature and on the angle ? between the magnetic field and the crystallographicc-axis.     

High pressure spectroscopy of chromium doped LiTaO3 crystals

Abstract

The effect of pressure on the luminescence spectrum of the weak field system Cr³⁺ : LiTaO₃ is presented. By using pressure to induce a low to high crystal field strength transition, we demonstrate the ability of pressure to identify distinct dopant bonding environments in luminescent materials.     

Anisotropy of electrooptical interaction in LiNbO3 crystals

Results of studying the conditions for optimum electrooptical (EO) interaction in lithium niobate crystals are presented. Analytical formulas are obtained for calculating refractive indices of natural waves and their polarizations for basis X-, Y-, and Z-cuts of crystals for arbitrary orientations of the wave vector of an optical wave. Conditions are found for the appearance of intermode EO interaction causing the orientation of polarization plane of natural waves to become a function of the external electric field.     

Linear and nonlinear optical properties of MgO:LiTaO3

We derive new temperature dependent Sellmeier equations for the extra-ordinary and ordinary refractive indices of 0.5% MgO-doped stoichiometric LiTaO₃ crystal. The equations are based on quasi phase-matched frequency conversion measurements, as well as on interferometric measurements of the thermal expansion and thermal dispersion. These equations fit experimental data over wide spectral ranges: 0.35–6 μm for the extra-ordinary wave and 0.375–3.75 μm for the ordinary wave, from room temperature up to 200°C. The nonlinear optical measurements set lower-limit values for the d ₃₃, d ₂₂, and d ₂₄ elements of the second-order susceptibility tensor χ ⁽²⁾ of 12.9, 1.54, and 0.46 pm/V, respectively. The interferometric measurements enable one to determine the linear and quadratic expansion coefficients of 1.45762e?5 1/°C, and 2.68608e?8 (1/°C)², respectively. The Sellmeier equations are in good agreement with previously published data.     

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

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.     

Electrical properties of LiNbO3 crystals reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity and pyroelectric coefficient of lithium niobate crystals reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere has been studied. It has been established that the activation energy of dark electrical conduction in these crystals in the temperature range 288?C350 K differs from the corresponding values for crystals reduced in vacuum and is equal to 0.68 ± 0.02 eV. It has been shown that the annealing of LiNbO₃ crystals in a hydrogen atmosphere hardly affects their pyroelectric properties. The mechanism of electrical conduction of LiNbO₃ crystals reduced in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere has been discussed.     

Electro-optic properties in undoped and Cr-doped LiNbO3 crystals

3 along the ferroelectric c axis in pure and chromium-doped crystals. We have studied four series of samples with various crystal compositions and doping concentrations to separate the influence of the intrinsic defects related to the non-stoichiometry and the effect of the introduction of chromium. In pure and slightly doped crystals, the electro-optic coefficient r_c shows a non-monotonous dependence on the controlled crystal composition, which reflects a similar behaviour of the corresponding dielectric permittivity. In the highly Cr-doped crystals r_c displays a large decrease with increasing Cr concentration whatever the crystal composition. The results have been discussed by means of the LiNbO₃ structure and the substitution site dynamics. Received: 14 November 1997/Accepted: 2 January 1998     

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.     

New long-lived memory effects in LiNbO3 crystals

This paper describes a new way of recording information by changing the potential contour at the surface of z-cut crystals of LiNbO₃. The effect of various kinds of external perturbations on the rate of decay of optical images written using this method is investigated, along with the possibility of writing information on crystals with transition-metal impurities. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 337–339 (February 1998)     

Assessment of damage ranges by measurements of the refractive index in ion implanted LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

Ion implantation in LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ produces radiation damage by nuclear collisions. The amorphisation of the lattice reduces the refractive index of the material. In the case of fast ion bombardment with helium this damage layer is buried below the surface. The refractive index profile which then exists is suitable for an optical waveguide on the surface which supports several modes. Analysis of the refractive index profile yields the damage distribution in the crystal and this in turn can be compared with theoretical estimates of the damage production and ion ranges.

Our analyses show that in the high energy range from 0.5 to 2.0 MeV the depth of the damage is predominantly controlled by the electronic stopping.     

Domain-inversion characteristics of congruent and stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals

The characteristics of the ferroelectxic domain inversion structures fabricated by applying voltage at room temperatture in Z-cut congruent LiNbO3 and stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals were examined. The voltage required for domain reversal in congrueat crystals is about 2.8 times larger than the voltage for stoichiometric crystals. The periodicity of the sstoichiometric crystals are more uniforn than that of the congruent crystals.     

Photorefraction and anisotropic light scattering in LiNbO3-Fe crystals

By holographic recording in LiNbO₃-Fe and LiTaO₃-Fe crystals a new light scattering effect has been observed with an optical indicatrix along the optical axis. The kinetics of the light scattering depends on the intensity, wavelength as well as the polarization of the incident light The holographic volume grating is created by the interference of an incident light and light scattered by crystal inhomogeneities.