Abstract

Optical damage in LiNbO₃ crystals - i.e. refractive index change after exposure to laser radiation - is well-known as a phenomenon impairing the operation of integrated optical (i.o.) devices. Previous work aimed at directly measuring the build-up of the associated electric field with an external probe /1/. Schmidt et al. /2/ observed optically induced cross-talk in LiNbO₃ i.o. directional couplers. The new technique investigates the shift of the directional coupler switching characteristic at 1.06 μm wavelength after precedent exposure to radiation of 633 nm wavelength.

© 1982 Optical Society of America