Strong photo-induced refractive index changes in RF-sputtered tantalum oxide planar waveguides

Large negative UV-induced index changes (~ -0.01) have been measured in sputtered tantalum oxide planar waveguides using an optical fibre probe capable of accurately monitoring both the magnitude and the sign of the index change

Electric-field-induced periodic domain inversion in Nd³⁺-diffused LiNbO₃

The authors report the first demonstration of electric-field-induced periodic poling in neodymium-indiffused lithium niobate. The fidelity of patterning is as good as with undoped samples, and the poling field required is smaller. This novel combination of two techniques for manipulation of the optical properties of lithium niobate makes possible an extended range of active devices