M. de Micheli

On the genesis and evolution of Integrated Quantum Optics

Applications of Integrated Optics to quantum sources, detectors, interfaces, memories and linear optical quantum computing are described in this review. By their inherent compactness, efficiencies, and interconnectability, many of the demonstrated individual devices can clearly serve as building blocks for more complex quantum systems, that could also profit from the incorporation of other guided wave technologies.

Independent control of index and profiles in proton-exchanged lithium niobate guides

We demonstrate the possibility of controlling, practically independently, the form and indices of proton-exchanged lithium niobate guides by means of guide annealing and proton exchange in lithium-rich solutions. Experimental results are presented that indicate how one can realize specific guide designs.

Fabrication and characterization of Titanium Indiffused Proton Exchanged (TIPE) waveguides in lithium niobate

Abstract We report the fabrication and characterization of optical waveguides realized in LiNbO 3 by a combined titanium indiffusion proton exchange (TIPE) process. These guides provide several unique advantages which include permitting tailorong of guide birefringence, realizing proton exchanged Y -cut plates of good optical quality, and the realization of imbedded TM guides due to a lowering of n o caused by proton exchange.

Nd:MgO:LiNbO 3 waveguide laser and amplifier

We report efficient operation of a channel waveguide laser and a channel waveguide amplifier in Nd:MgO:LiNbO(3). For the laser a cw output power of 2.9 mW was obtained for 23.6 mW of absorbed pump power. The absorbed pump power at threshold was 1.5 mW, and a slope efficiency of 13% was achieved. For the amplifier a small-signal gain of 7.5 dB was achieved for 22 mW of coupled pump power.

Relationships between structural and optical properties of proton-exchanged waveguides on Z-cut lithium niobate.

By using x-ray diffraction and optical waveguide characterization, it has been shown that proton-exchanged layers on Z-cut LiNbO(3) can have as many as seven different crystallographic phases that are stable at room temperature. This study allows us to establish some correlation between fabrication parameters and the crystalline structure, the index profiles, and the propagation losses of waveguides prepared by this process.

Soft proton exchange on periodically poled LiNbO3: A simple waveguide fabrication process for highly efficient nonlinear interactions

We report a simple fabrication process for realizing waveguides on periodically poled lithium niobate which preserves both the nonlinearity and the domain inversion. This so-called soft proton exchange has been used to generate highly efficient optical parametric fluorescence in the 1.48–2.01 μm region using a pump around 830 nm. The measured normalized efficiency is 130% W−1 cm−2 for an effective interaction length of 1.3 cm. This experimental figure is very close to the maximum theoretically predicted value of 140% W−1 cm−2.

Quasi-phase-matched parametric interactions in proton-exchanged lithium niobate waveguides

We present a review of parametric fluorescence with bulk and guided geometries in quasi-phase matched lithium niobate. Whereas bulk experiments have yielded results close to theoretical predictions, waveguided versions have shown strongly reduced efficiencies. Attributing the observed conversion efficiency reductions to a loss of the material nonlinearity, to a destruction of the inverted domains during the waveguide fabrication, or to both, we carefully studied the influence of the proton-exchange process on the nonlinear and structural properties of the periodically poled lithium niobate. We found that an annealed proton-exchange process can essentially conserve the nonlinearity but will erase the periodic domain structure. This erasure can be avoided by use of a highly diluted proton-exchange melt. This direct proton-exchange process perfectly preserves all the nonlinear optical and structural properties of periodically poled LiNbO3.

Extension of second-harmonic phase-matching range in lithium niobate guides

An extension of the fundamental wavelength phase-matching range for second-harmonic generation based on titanium-indiffused proton-exchanged lithium niobate guides has been demonstrated. Both the theoretical basis and experimental verification are presented.

Crystalline and optical quality of proton exchanged waveguides

In this paper we demonstrate the possibility of obtaining high-quality proton-exchanged (PE) lithium niobate guides by performing the exchange at high temperatures (300°C) in benzoic acid diluted with lithium benzoate. Rutherford backscattering studies suggest that the higher exchange temperatures avoid the production of niobium dislocations, and, IR absorption measurements suggest that the use of lithium benzoate diluted melts prevents the creation of interstitial hydrogen.

Hybrid modes in proton exchanged waveguides realized in LiNbO/sub 3/, and their dependence on fabrication parameters

In this paper, we present a relation between material structure, hybrid modes, and propagation losses in proton exchanged (PE) LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguides. Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and X-ray diffraction studies are used to show that there are two essential reasons for losses and complex behavior in high /spl delta/n/sub e/ PE waveguides. RBS studies show that using benzoic acid melt temperatures below 300/spl deg/C leads to distorted waveguide layers and propagation losses higher than several dB/cm. At high temperature, the X-ray studies prove that the crystalline order is preserved, but induced strain leads to biaxial exchanged layers, which results in hybrid modes that can have very high losses. Finally, fabrication parameters allowing the realization of high quality, high /spl delta/n/sub e/, PE waveguides in LiNbO/sub 3/ are identified. >