Birefringent and nonlinear optical assessment of single crystal lithium niobate fibres

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 38; no. 18; pp. 3387 - 3390
• Main Authors: Renwick, E K, Ruddock, I S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 21.09.2005; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Birefringence, polarization; Circuit properties; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrication, cladding, and splicing; Fiber testing and measurement of fiber parameters; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Ternary compound; Crystal growth; Second harmonic generation; Non linear material; Laser heating; Non linear optics; Experimental study; Birefringent medium; Optical properties; Lithium niobates; Birefringence; Optical frequency conversion; Optical fiber
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/38/18/010

a-axis fibres of lithium niobate produced by laser heated miniature pedestal growth can possess transverse and longitudinal birefringence variations due to faceted growth. When used for second harmonic generation, these characteristics cause conversion efficiencies to be two to three orders of magnitude smaller than predicted and the phasematchable lengths and apertures to be short. Second harmonic generation and associated birefringence mapping are shown to be sensitive indicators of their uniformity.