Integrated optical waveguide utilizing zinc oxide diffused into congruent and magnesium oxide doped lithium niobate crystals

摘要

An integrated optical waveguide is constructed from a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal substrate. In preferred embodiments, a diffused layer is formed proximate to one surface of the substrate by sputtering a thin layer of a zinc-related oxide (e.g., ZnO, ZnLiNbO4, or the like) onto the surface and then annealing the substrate. The resulting concentration of zinc in the diffused layer forms a waveguide having desirable optical propagation characteristics. The substrate is preferably congruent lithium niobate. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substrate is magnesium oxide (MgO) doped lithium niobate.