Electro-optic narrowband multi-wavelength filter in aperiodically poled lithium niobate

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Developing tunable narrowband filters is crucial for advanced optical systems.
• Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a key material for nonlinear optics and integrated photonics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an iterative design scheme for active narrowband multi-wavelength filters.
• To experimentally demonstrate such filters using aperiodically poled lithium niobate (APLN).

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an iterative design process for filter optimization.
• Fabricating and testing active narrowband multi-wavelength filters based on APLN crystals.
• Characterizing filter performance including linewidth, transmittance, and tunability.

Main Results:

• Achieved simultaneous transmission of 8 distinct wavelengths.
• Each transmitted wavelength exhibited a narrow linewidth of approximately 0.45 nm.
• Demonstrated nearly 100% peak transmittance for all transmitted wavelengths.
• Showcased temperature-tunable spectral characteristics with a tuning rate of ~0.65 nm/°C.

Conclusions:

• The developed iterative design scheme enables the creation of high-performance active narrowband multi-wavelength filters.
• Aperiodic lithium niobate is a viable material for fabricating such advanced optical filters.
• The demonstrated filters offer precise spectral control and high transmission efficiency, suitable for various optical applications.