Soliton waveguide arrays in LiNb03 generated with blue-violet lasers for ultrafast parallel coupling

We experimentally demonstrate generation of bright spatial solitons in lithium niobate crystals, with a blue-violet laser diode, at λ =405 nm. This wavelength is near the short wavelength absorption edge of the crystal and allows the rapid (minute) generation of solitons and soliton waveguides (SWGs) with low laser powers (~ 5 μW). Using a serial writing procedure, we have built a SWG array of 10 fiber-like waveguides in approx. 10 minutes. The IR guiding capability of these SWGs recorded in lithium niobate is tested by guiding femtosecond laser pulses at λ = 1030 nm and 1550 nm and shows low absorption and low dispersion. These waveguides can be very useful for ultrafast parallel coupling applications in integrated photonics.