Nonlinear optical waveguides generated in lithium niobate by swift-ion irradiation at ultralow fluences

A novel method to produce optical waveguides is demonstrated for lithium niobate (LiNbO3). It is based on electronic excitation damage by swift ions, i.e., with energies at approximately 1 MeV/amu or above. The new technique uses high-energy medium-mass ions, such as Cl, with electronic stopping pow...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Olivares Pascual, José, García Navarro, A., García, Gustavo, Méndez, A., Agulló-López, F., García Cabañes, Ángel, Carrascosa Rico, Mercedes, Caballero, O.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2007
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/53453
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/53453
Access Level:acceso abierto
Descripción
Sumario:A novel method to produce optical waveguides is demonstrated for lithium niobate (LiNbO3). It is based on electronic excitation damage by swift ions, i.e., with energies at approximately 1 MeV/amu or above. The new technique uses high-energy medium-mass ions, such as Cl, with electronic stopping powers above the threshold value for amorphization (5-6 keV/nm), reaching the maximum value a few micrometers inside the crystal. At the ultralow fluence regime (1012-1013 cm-2) an effective nanostructured medium is obtained that behaves as an optical waveguide where light propagates transversally to the amorphous nanotracks created by every single impact. The method implies a reduction of 4 orders of magnitude with respect to He implantation. The optical waveguides present reasonable losses (∼10 dB/cm) and significant second-harmonic generation (SHG) and electro-optic (EO) responses (>50% bulk) for the lowest fluences. © 2007 Optical Society of America.

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