Abstract

The use of lithium niobate waveguide devices in real laser optical systems requires that they deliver a specified optical power continuously for a time period measured in thousands of hours. The primary barrier to achieving such performance has been lithium niobate’s photorefractive sensitivity, also known as optical damage [1-4]. This sensitivity, which depends on the waveguide’s thermochemical history, decreases a waveguide’s power-handling ability at the shorter laser wavelengths and at the higher laser powers [3,4]. Only those waveguides prepared by the out-diffusion process have shown promise for adequate long-term use with HeNe lasers at power levels greater than 1mW.

© 1982 Optical Society of America