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Title: Structuring of material parameters in lithium niobate crystals with low-mass, high-energy ion radiation
Author(s): K. Peithmann Person, P.-D. Eversheim, J. Goetze Person, M. Haaks Person, H. Hattermann Person, S. Haubrich Person, F. Hinterberger, L. Jentjens Person, W. Mader, N. L. Raeth Person, H. Schmid, M.-R. Zamani-Meymian Person and K. Maier Person
Journal: Appl. Phys. B: Lasers Opt.
Year: 2011
Volume: 105
Issue: 1
Pages: 113-127
Publisher: Springer Berlin / Heidelberg
Affiliation: Helmholtz-Institut für Strahlen- und Kernphysik, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 14–16, 53115 Bonn, Germany
DOI: 10.1007/s00340-011-4681-2
ISSN: 0946-2171
File URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/c624u15604046572/
Abstract: Ferroelectric lithium niobate crystals offer a great potential for applications in modern optics. To provide powerful optical components, tailoring of key material parameters, especially of the refractive index n and the ferroelectric domain landscape, is required. Irradiation of lithium niobate crystals with accelerated ions causes strong structured modifications in the material. The effects induced by low-mass, high-energy ions (such as 3He with 41 MeV, which are not implanted, but transmit through the entire crystal volume) are reviewed. Irradiation yields large changes of the refractive index Δn , improved domain engineering capability within the material along the ion track, and waveguiding structures. The periodic modification of Δn as well as the formation of periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) (supported by radiation damage) is described. Two-step knock-on displacement processes, 3 He→Nb and 3 He→O causing thermal spikes, are identified as origin for the material modifications.

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