Ultrashort-pulse optically-assisted domain engineering in lithium niobate

Abstract

Ultrashort laser pulses (120-150 fs) of near-ultraviolet (305 nm) to near-infrared (800 nm) wavelengths have been used to optically-assist domain nucleation and growth in lithium niobate. Within illuminated areas, the electric field required for domain nucleation is reduced by up to 41% in undoped and up to 98% in 5-mol% Mg-doped congruently melting materials, allowing direct-writing of inverted domains with electric fields as small as 100 V mm^-1. A first step towards the formation of optically-defined periodically poled lithium niobate was achieved by illumination via a phase mask, demonstrated over small areas with a period of 5.25 microns.

Ferroelectrics (2006) Vol.340 pp.75-82

doi: 10.1080/00150190600888983

Publisher′s URL: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a769409184&fulltext=713240928

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