TUNABLE GUIDED-WAVE OPTICAL POLARIZATION CONVERTERS IN LITHIUM TANTALATE Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Tunable guided-wave TETM mode converters have been produced in LiTaO3using strain-induced polarization mode coupling. The waveguides are formed by Zn diffusion from the vapor phase. Phase matched coupling is obtained by depositing a thick SiO2film at an elevated temperature and delineating a spatially periodic pattern in the film at room temperature. The static shear strain resulting from the large thermal expansion mismatch between the substrate and film causes an off-diagonal change in the refractive index via the strain-optic effect and promotes TETM coupling. Polarization conversion in excess of 98% was achieved at a wavelength of 627 nm in X-cut LiTaO3. The conversion efficiency is highly wavelength selective, with a spectral width of 7.3 nm in the 5.4 mm long device. Thermal and electro-optic tuning of the center wavelength was demonstrated.

published proceedings

  • APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS

author list (cited authors)

  • TANG, Z., EKNOYAN, O., TAYLOR, H. F., & SWENSON, V. P.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • TANG, Z||EKNOYAN, O||TAYLOR, HF||SWENSON, VP

publication date

  • January 1993