Microstructuring lithium niobate: towards new hybrid devices

Abstract

Lithium niobate is among the most important nonlinear optical materials used today in the photonics industry as it combines a variety of very important properties which, apart from the optical nonlinearity, includes electrooptic, pyroelectric, piezoelectric behaviour and an optical transparency which extends from the UV (350nm) to the infrared (5µm) spectral region. In order to benefit from both the optical and electro-mechanical properties of lithium niobate it is necessary to develop methods for the fabrication of suitable surface and/or bulk structures depending on the application involved. Such methods for surface and bulk microstructuring have been developed and are presented here aiming to show that there is significant scope for the broadening of the utility of this very useful material. & more..