Abstract

Optical waveguides in LiNbO₃ crystals produced by Zn diffusion from the vapor phase have been characterized. Dark mode measurements have been used to determine the refractive-index profiles of the planar waveguides. The influence of the diffusion temperature and diffusion time on the waveguide depth and on the ordinary and extraordinary index changes has been investigated. The effect of the buffer pressure on the waveguide parameters has also been studied. Waveguide formation has been observed at temperatures as low as 550 °C, far from the Curie point and the Li out-diffusion temperature. Changes in refractive index higher than 2.5% have been obtained. The activation energy for the process was similar to that for diffusion of Zn from a ZnO source at a higher temperature. The results of the optical characterization are compared with those for the conventional Ti diffusion method, and some aspects of the diffusion process are discussed.

© 1997 Optical Society of America

Characterization of index profiles of Zn-diffused LiNbO₃ waveguides

Rubén Nevado and Ginés Lifante
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 16(10) 2574-2580 (1999)

Characterization of waveguides fabricated by titanium diffusion in magnesium-doped lithium niobate

Anders Sjöberg, Gunnar Arvidsson, and Andrey A. Lipovskii
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 5(2) 285-291 (1988)

Characterization of α-phase soft proton-exchanged LiNbO₃ optical waveguides

Yu. N. Korkishko, V. A. Fedorov, E. A. Baranov, M. V. Proyaeva, T. V. Morozova, F. Caccavale, F. Segato, C. Sada, and S. M. Kostritskii
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(5) 1186-1191 (2001)

Diffusion Kinetics and Optical Waveguiding Properties of Outdiffused Layers in Lithium Niobate and Lithium Tantalate

J. R. Carruthers, I. P. Kaminow, and L. W. Stulz
Appl. Opt. 13(10) 2333-2342 (1974)

Characterization of annealed, proton-exchanged optical waveguides in ZnO:LiNbO₃ crystal

Wei Xing Hou and Tow Chong Chong
Appl. Opt. 36(21) 5083-5088 (1997)