Electro-optically tunable, multi-wavelength optical parametric generators in aperiodically poled lithium niobates

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optics
• Materials Science
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Optical parametric generators (OPGs) are crucial for tunable light sources.
• Electro-optic (EO) tuning offers precise control over OPG output wavelengths.
• Aperiodically poled lithium niobate (APPLN) crystals enable multi-wavelength generation but require enhanced tunability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and demonstrate electro-optically tunable, multi-wavelength OPGs using APPLN.
• To enhance the electro-optic tunability of APPLN-based OPGs.
• To achieve simultaneous multiple signal wavelength generation with improved EO tuning rates.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of APPLN crystals using the aperiodic optical superlattice (AOS) technique.
• Engineering the APPLN domain structure during crystal fabrication and design.
• Increasing the length or block-number difference of opposite-polarity domains for enhanced EO effect.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated electro-optically tunable, multi-wavelength OPGs based on engineered APPLN.
• Achieved several orders of magnitude enhancement in EO tuning rate compared to conventional OPGs.
• Successfully demonstrated simultaneous multiple signal wavelength generation in the 1500-1600 nm near-infrared band.

Conclusions:

• The proposed engineering techniques significantly improve EO tunability in APPLN OPGs.
• These enhanced OPGs are suitable for precise, multi-wavelength generation in the near-infrared.
• The study advances the development of tunable nonlinear optical devices for various applications.