Microstructuring lithium niobate: A multi directional approach

Abstract

Lithium niobate is a nonlinear optical ferroelectric crystal which has found extended use in the area of optical and conventional telecommunications systems as it possesses a wide range of desirable optical and electromechanical properties. The importance of this nonlinear crystal to the photonics industry has lead to the reproducible growth of commercially available superior quality material.

Microstructuring of this material is expected to allow for fabrication flexibility by benefiting from both optical and electromechanical properties and to increase its functionality and applicability.

An outline of the main methods used for the fabrication of surface and bulk microstructures in congruent lithium niohate single crystals will he given here where techniques such as ferroelectric domain micro-engineering and laser-material interactions are used to induce spatially resolved differential etching which is the main tool in micro-fabrication processes.

Recent Research Developments in Applied Physics (2004) Vol.7 pp.334-344

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