Film-loaded SAW waveguides for integrated acousto-optical polarization converters

Author

Peverini, Oscar A. ; Herrmann, Harald ; Orta, Renato

Author_Institution

IEIIT, CNR, Torino, Italy

Volume

51

Issue

10

fYear

2004

Firstpage

1298

Lastpage

1307

Abstract

We report on a detailed theoretical and experimental investigation of film-loaded surface acoustic wave (SAW) waveguides in lithium niobate (LiNbO/sub 3/) for integrated acousto-optical (AO) polarization converters. The numerical analysis is based on both a scalar and a full-vectorial model. Dispersion plots and figures of merit for several structures are given, which lead to design parameters for optimized polarization converters. It is pointed out that very attractive structures are metal/dielectric/LiNbO/sub 3/ strip waveguides and dielectric/LiNbO/sub 3/ slot waveguides, in which metal is either gold (Au) or aluminum (Al), and the dielectric film is an optical transparent material such as silicon oxide (SiO/sub 2/), magnesium oxide (MgO), or aluminium oxide (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/). Polarization converters with the designed acoustical waveguides have been realized and characterized by optical conversion and laser probing measurements.

Keywords

acousto-optical devices; alumina; dielectric thin films; dielectric waveguides; gold; integrated optics; lithium compounds; numerical analysis; optical design techniques; optical films; optical materials; silicon compounds; slot lines; surface acoustic wave waveguides; Au-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-LiNbO/sub 3/; Au-SiO/sub 2/-LiNbO/sub 3/; aluminium oxide; aluminum; dielectric film; dielectric-LiNbO/sub 3/ slot waveguides; dispersion plots; figure of merit; film loaded SAW waveguides; film loaded surface acoustic wave waveguides; gold; integrated acousto-optical polarization converters; laser probing measurements; lithium niobate; magnesium oxide; metal dielectric LiNbO/sub 3/ strip waveguides; numerical analysis; optical conversion; optical transparent material; scalar model; silicon oxide; vectorial model; Acoustic waveguides; Acoustic waves; Dielectrics; Gold; Optical films; Optical polarization; Optical surface waves; Optical waveguides; Surface acoustic waves; Waveguide theory;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-3010

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TUFFC.2004.1350958

Filename

1350958