Cerenkov configuration second harmonic generation in proton-exchanged lithium niobate guides

A theoretical and experimental study of second-harmonic generation using the Cerenkov configuration with proton-exchanged lithium niobate guides is presented. The analytic solution of the problem for the case of planar step-index guides makes it possible to identify the essential role played by the discontinuity of the nonlinear polarization at the guide-substrate interface. This leads to the prediction of an increasing conversion efficiency for decreasing values of guide nonlinearity. It is shown that the experimental results are consistent with a reduction of 50 to 70% of the value of the nonlinear coefficient in unannealed waveguides fabricated in slightly diluted or pure benzoic acid. The results presented permit the optimization of guide design for efficient second-harmonic generation in the Cerenkov configuration