The development of reliable periodic poling methods that allow for sub-µm quasi-phase matched (QPM) gratings and, at the same time, allow for waveguide implementation, is of paramount importance for a large number of applications. For instance, backward-wave optical parametric oscillators [1] are only viable if the QPM period is on the same order of magnitude as the wavelengths of the interacting waves. Furthermore, the integration of such QPM devices in a waveguide format would unveil countless possibilities in quantum optics employing the crystal as an ultrabright bi-photon source with unique spectral characteristics.
We propose and demonstrate a method for quantum-state tomography of qudits encoded in the quantum polarization of N-photon states. This is achieved by distributing N photons nondeterministically into three paths and their subsequent projection, which for N = 1 is equivalent to measuring the Stokes (or Pauli) operators. The statistics of the recorded N-fold coincidences determines the unknown N-photon polarization state uniquely. The proposed, fixed setup manifestly rules out any systematic measurement errors due to moving components and allows for simple switching between tomography of different states, which makes it ideal for adaptive tomography schemes.
This Joint Issue of Optics Express and Optical Materials Express features 36 state of-the art articles written by authors who participated in the international conference Advanced Solid State Lasers held online from October 3-7, 2021. This review provides a summary of these articles covering a wide spectrum of topics around solid-state lasers from materials research to sources and from design innovation to applications.
This joint issue of Optics Express and Optical Materials Express features 36 state-of-the art articles written by authors who participated in the international conference advanced solid state lasers held online from October 3-7, 2021. This review provides a summary of these articles covering a wide spectrum of topics around solid-state lasers from materials research to sources and from design innovation to applications.
Frequency doubling is demonstrated in femtosecond-laser-created single-mode waveguides written in a periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystal. Conversion efficiencies of 0.22%/W (0.02%/W) were obtained for first (third) order phasematching at 980nm (800nm).
The second-harmonic conversion efficiency within the PPKTP waveguide is investigated using two separate tunable CW Ti:sapphire lasers at 800 nm and 980 nm. Results show strong conversion efficiency which imply that the local damage-induced index modification does not adversely affect the periodic domain structure in the material.
Frequency doubling has been achieved in femtosecond-laser-inscribed single-mode waveguides written in two periodically-poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystals. A conversion efficiency of 0.22 %W-1 was obtained for first-order quasi-phase matching at 980 nm and an efficiency of 0.02 %W-1 for third-order quasi-phase matching at 800 nm.
Ferroelectric crystals are commonly used in nonlinear optics for frequency conversion of laser radiation. The quasi-phase matching (QPM) approach uses a periodically modulated nonlinearity that can be achieved by periodically inverting domains in ferroelectric crystals and allows versatile and efficient frequency conversion in the whole transparency region of the material.
KTiOPO4 (KTP) is one of the most attractive ferroelectric non-linear optical material for periodic domain-inversion engineering due to its excellent non-linearity, high resistance for photorefractive damage, and its relatively low coercive field. A periodic structure of reversed domains can be created in the crystal by lithographic patterning with subsequent electric field poling. The performance of the periodically poled KTP crystals (PPKTP) as frequency converters rely directly upon the poling quality. Therefore, characterization methods that lead to a deeper understanding of the polarization switching process are of utmost importance.
In this work, several techniques have been used and developed to study domain structure in KTP, both in-situ and ex-situ. The results obtained have been utilized to characterize different aspects of the polarization switching processes in KTP, both for patterned and unpatterned samples.
It has also been demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate sub-micrometer (sub-μm) PPKTP for novel optical devices. Lithographic processes based on e-beam lithography and deep UV-laser lithography have been developed and proven useful to pattern sub- μm pitches, where the later has been the most convenient method. A poling method based on a periodical modulation of the K-stoichiometry has been developed, and it has resulted in a sub-μm domain grating with a period of 720 nm for a 1 mm thick KTP crystal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest domain aspect-ratio achieved for a bulk ferroelectric crystal. The sub-micrometer PPKTP samples have been used for demonstration of 6:th and 7:th QPM order backward second-harmonic generation with continuous wave laser excitation, as well as a demonstration of narrow wavelength electrically-adjustable Bragg reflectivity.
Since the early 1990's, a substantial effort has been devoted to the development of quasi-phased-matched (QPM) nonlinear devices, not only in ferroelectric oxides like LiNbO3, LiTaO3 and KTiOPO4 (KTP), but also in semiconductors as GaAs, and GaP. The technology to implement QPM structures in ferroelectric oxides has by now matured enough to satisfy the most basic frequency-conversion schemes without substantial modification of the poling procedures. Here, we present a qualitative leap in periodic poling techniques that allows us to demonstrate devices and frequency conversion schemes that were deemed unfeasible just a few years ago. Thanks to our short-pulse poling and coercive-field engineering techniques, we are able to demonstrate large aperture (5 mm) periodically poled Rb-doped KTP devices with a highly-uniform conversion efficiency over the whole aperture. These devices allow parametric conversion with energies larger than 60 mJ. Moreover, by employing our coercive-field engineering technique we fabricate highlyefficient sub-μm periodically poled devices, with periodicities as short as 500 nm, uniform over 1 mm-Thick crystals, which allow us to realize mirrorless optical parametric oscillators with counter-propagating signal and idler waves. These novel devices present unique spectral and tuning properties, superior to those of conventional OPOs. Furthermore, our techniques are compatible with KTA, a KTP isomorph with extended transparency in the mid-IR range. We demonstrate that our highly-efficient PPKTA is superior both for mid-IR and for green light generation-as a result of improved transmission properties in the visible range. Our KTP-isomorph poling techniques leading to highly-efficient QPM devices will be presented. Their optical performance and attractive damage thresholds will be discussed.
A study of polarization-switching characteristics under an applied electrical field at room temperature is presented for flux-grown KTiOPO4 and RbTiOPO4. By optimizing the experimental conditions, we determined the coercive field and the domain-switching time quantitatively by direct observation of the switching current. For both isomorphs, the inverse of the polarization-switching time, 1/t(s), follows an exponential dependence on the applied field E in low-field regime, and a linear dependence on E in the high-field regime. Domain morphology of KTiOPO4 based on selective etching reveals laminar structures elongated in the b crystallographic direction. An estimation of the domain-wall velocity shows that the domain speed in the polar direction is, at least, two orders of magnitude larger than in the a-b plane. The velocity along the b direction is similar to 30 times larger than along the a axis.
Shaping and patterning of bulk or thin layer crystals and ceramics are one of the new frontiers in the field of laser and nonlinear optics. These technical aspects are rarely published, but they are crucial for the fundamental studies as well as for technology and applications. This special issue features 15 articles that focus on the orienting, cutting, polishing, coating, bonding, writing guides, or poling crystals and ceramics for bulk- or micro-optics. We have here a corpus of contributions describing the techniques as well as the gain they bring in terms of functionality or performance of the fabricated components devoted to optics and photonics. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America
A nonlinear photonic crystal with a rectangular domain lattice of 6.09x6 mu m(2) has been fabricated and characterized in flux-grown KTiOPO4. It was used to demonstrate continuous-wave and multiple beam tunable blue second harmonic generation.
We report on fabrication and characterization of a nonlinear photonic crystal with a rectangular lattice in a KTiOPO4 crystal. The structure was used to demonstrate CW tunable second harmonic generation in the blue regime.
We report on the first experimental demonstration of mirrorless optical parametric oscillation. The counter-propagating idler and signal oscillate without an external cavity in a sub-µm periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystal, reaching an efficiency of 16.5%.
Parametric interaction of counterpropagating photons has the unique property of automatically establishing distributed feedback and thus realizing novel sources of coherent and tunable radiation, such as mirrorless optical parametric oscillators. This device does not require alignment or any optical components other than the second-order nonlinear medium itself(1). Here we present the first experimental demonstration of such an oscillator, which was made feasible by quasi phase-matching in a nonlinear photonic structure with submicrometre periodicity. This type of oscillator has been extensively discussed as a theoretical possibility(1-5). It generates signal and idler waves in the near- and mid-infrared, respectively, and exhibits unique and useful spectral properties. The oscillator signal is essentially a wavelength-shifted replica of the pump spectrum, and the bandwidth of the idler is two orders of magnitude narrower than that of the pump. It also has very low output wavelength sensitivity to temperature variations.
A submicron domain grating has been created in a bulk ferroelectric. Electron-beam lithography and electric-field poling were used to fabricate the 800 nm period grating in a 0.5-mm-thick flux-grown KTiOPO4 sample. The domain structure was characterized with an atomic force microscope and was used to demonstrate electrically amplitude adjustable Bragg reflections.
1mm thick KTiOPO4 was poled with 720nm domain period by employing UVlithography, chemical patterning and electric field poling. The structure was used to demonstrate 6 and 7 order quasi-phase matched backward second harmonic generation.
1mm thick KTiOPO4 was poled with 720nm domain period by employing UV-lithography, chemical patterning and electric field poling. The structure was used to demonstrate 6 and 7 order quasi-phase matched backward second harmonic generation.
A 1 turn thick flux-grown KTiOPO4 sample was poled with a 720 nm domain period by employing deep-UV laser lithography, chemical patterning, and electric field poling. An atomic force microscope was used to characterize the periodic domain structure. The sample was used to demonstrate sixth and seventh order quasi-phase-matched backward second-harmonic generation.
We report on the progress in fabrication of sub-micrometer ferroelectric domain gratings in KTiOPO4. Periods as short as 565 nm have been created in the bulk of the crystal by electric-filed poling.
The inverse piezoelectric effect is used to produce high-resolution images of ferroelectric domains in periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystals on their nonpolar y-face using atomic force microscopy. We demonstrate that the technique is convenient for studying the nucleation and growth of domains in a periodically poled KTiOPO4 sample.
Some novel techniques to do periodic poling of KTP are described. Emphasis on ways to avoid domain broadening and merging of domains is presented with reference to the original properties of flux grown KTP. For sub-Am structures E-beam lithography and deep UV-laser lithography were used to pattern the samples, and chemical process to promote selective poling to obtain high quality domain gratings in up to 1 mm thick samples.
The fast dynamic evolution of ferroelectric domains during electric field poling in flux grown KTiOPO4 crystals was investigated online by a digital holography based technique. The dependence of the ferroelectric domain kinetics on the electric field temporal wave form and poling history was studied. High-speed imaging by means of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor camera allowed in situ measurement of the domain wall propagation speed under different poling conditions. The results also give evidence of the strong influence of the dielectric surface layer in this material.
We present the experimental implementation of a mirrorless optical parametric oscillator based on sub-μm periodically poled KTiOPO4. The poling process for sub-μm gratings and the unique properties of the device will be discussed.
The domain structure of periodically poled KTiOPO4 crystals were studied on both the polar and nonpolar faces utilizing a voltage-modulated atomic force microscope. The measurements give information of domain nucleation, growth, and merging. Two different kind of overpoling behaviors have been observed depending on the magnitude of the applied field.
We review the recent advances in fabrication of ferroelectric-domain gratings of sub-μm periodicity in KTP and Rb-doped KTP for counter-propagating second-order nonlinear optical interactions. Their performance as QPM devices will be discussed.
We present the fabrication of bulk sub-micrometer ferroelectric domain gratings in KTiOPO4 for QPM counter-propagating interactions. We demonstrate that bulk Rb-doped KTiOPO4 is a promising candidate for fine-pitch periodic poling.
We present the recent development on periodically poled nonlinear crystals with subwavelength periodicities as short as 500 nm. These devices show conversion efficiencies larger than 45%. Their unique properties will be presented and discussed.
One of the most practical means of generating tunable mid-infrared output is by using cascaded parametric down-conversion from 1 mu m, where efficient and reliable high-energy nanosecond lasers are well established. The overall efficiency of the cascade relies heavily on the efficiency of the first down-conversion stage where it is beneficial to employ quasi-phase matched crystals such as periodically-poled Rb: KTiOPO4 (PPRKTP). Ultimately, the pulse energy at 2 mu m and the optimum design of the first cascade will depend on the maximum intensity which could be safely applied to these crystals and therefore these schemes mandate investigation of nanosecond laser-induced damage threshold in KTiOPO4 (KTP) and Rb:KTiOPO4 (RKTP) at 1.064 mu m and 2 mu m. In the context of high-energy systems, where the beams are at most loosely focused, the limiting energy fluence will be determined by the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the bare surface. Therefore the LIDT of the bare surface is the lowest LIDT which has to be taken into account in design of robust 2 mu m parametric systems. We report surface LIDT measurements in KTP and RKTP with nanosecond pulses at 1.064 mu m and 2.1 mu m. We find that the reported LIDT for the bulk is far higher than that of the surface and therefore is unsuitable as a guide for the 2 mu m parametric system designs. LIDT values for KTP and RKTP with nanosecond pulses at 2 mu m have not been reported so far to the best of our knowledge.
Optimum design of high-energy parametric down-conversion schemes mandate investigation of nanosecond laser-induced damage threshold in KTiOPO4 and Rb:KTiOPO4 at 1.064 μm and 2 μm. A surface damage threshold of 10 J/cm2 at 2 μm was determined for both materials.
Optimum design of high-energy cascaded parametric down-conversion schemes from 1 μm requires accurate knowledge of the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) of the nonlinear crystal employed. We report surface LIDT measurements in KTiOPO4 (KTP) and Rb:KTP (RKTP) with nanosecond pulses at 1.064 μm and 2.1 μm. LIDT results for nanosecond pulses at 2 μm for KTP and RKTP have not been previously reported to the best of our knowledge.
Backward-wave OPO with forward mid-infrared idler and backward signal generation is demonstrated in 500-nm-periodicity PPRKTP. The output energy of 2.39mJ and efficiency of 46.4% is obtained. This design has potential for broad tunability in mid-infrared.
We report on the development of a nanosecond mirrorless optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped at 1 mu m. The gain medium of the OPO was periodically poled Rubidium-doped KTP with a grating period of Lambda = 509 nm for the first order quasi-phase matching. For grating periods of this length, we demonstrate backward propagation of the signal field and forward propagation of the idler field. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such a counter-propagating geometry has been demonstrated in mirrorless OPOs. Pumping with a maximum energy of 6.48 mJ, the OPO yielded an overall conversion efficiency exceeding 53% with signal and idler energies of 1.96 mJ and 1.46 mJ, respectively. The generated signal and idler field spectra were measured to show narrowband linewidths on the order of 0.5 nm. We motivate that such a MOPO is ideal for seeding applications and discuss further improvements and work.
The propagation front of a crack generates large strain gradients and it is therefore a strong source of gradient-induced polarization (flexoelectricity). Herein, we demonstrate that, in piezoelectric materials, a consequence of flexoelectricity is that crack propagation is helped or hindered depending on whether it is parallel or antiparallel to the piezoelectric polar axis. The discovery of crack propagation asymmetry proves that fracture physics cannot be assumed to be symmetric in polar materials, and indicates that flexoelectricity should be incorporated in any realistic model.