Abstract

The importance of LiNbO₃ proton exchanged (PE) waveguides in the fields of integrated lasers and nonlinear optical devices is nowadays well consolidated. PE waveguides support only extraordinary modes since the ordinary refractive index is decreased by proton exchange. The knowledge of the ordinary refractive index profile is however of great importance. Indeed, it affects the propagation of TM guided modes in Z-cut waveguides, which are the most widely employed in quasi-phase-matched (QPM) structures, and furthermore, it can be related to the crystallographic phase of the exchanged layer.

© 2001 EPS