Integrated surface acoustic wave deflector and optical disk tracking experiment: development

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Waveguide Optics
• Acousto-Optics
• Materials Science (Titanium-doped Lithium Niobate)

Background:

• Optical disk drives require precise and rapid head positioning for efficient data access.
• Existing deflection technologies face limitations in speed and integration complexity.
• Titanium-doped Lithium Niobate (Ti:LiNbO3) offers excellent electro-optic and waveguide properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated optical deflector for faster optical disk access times.
• To demonstrate experimental optical disk tracking using the novel deflector.
• To detail the fabrication processes for key integrated optical components.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) deflector with an end-coupled laser diode, gradient-index lens, half-wave plate, and geodesic waveguide lens.
• Fabrication of a Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide device.
• Experimental demonstration of optical disk tracking on a read-only disk.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of a SAW deflector with multiple optical elements on a Ti:LiNbO3 waveguide.
• Experimental achievement of optical disk tracking using the developed integrated device.
• Detailed description of geodesic lens fabrication, including polishing and waveguide fabrication techniques.

Conclusions:

• The integrated SAW deflector is a viable technology for improving optical disk access times.
• The developed device enables precise optical disk tracking.
• Advanced fabrication techniques are crucial for realizing integrated acousto-optic devices for data storage applications.