Abstract

A novel method to produce optical waveguides is demonstrated for lithium niobate $\left(\mathrm{Li}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{O}}_3\right)$. It is based on electronic excitation damage by swift ions, i.e., with energies at approximately $1\mathrm{MeV}∕\mathrm{amu}$ or above. The new technique uses high-energy medium-mass ions, such as Cl, with electronic stopping powers above the threshold value for amorphization $(5–6\mathrm{keV}∕\mathrm{nm})$, reaching the maximum value a few micrometers inside the crystal. At the ultralow fluence regime $({10}^{12}–{10}^{13}{\mathrm{cm}}^{-2})$ 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 $(\sim 10\mathrm{dB}∕\mathrm{cm})$ 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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