Evolution of Nanodomains and Formation of Self-Organized Structures during Local Switching in X-Cut LNOI

The features of nanodomain growth during local switching in X-cut lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) were comprehensively studied using the biased tip of a scanning probe microscope. The obtained results were discussed in terms of the kinetic approach. The revealed differences in domain growth in bulk LN and LNOI were attributed to the higher bulk conductivity of LNOI. The obtained influence of humidity on the shape and growth of isolated domains was attributed to the water meniscus. Analysis of the transition between the “forward growth” and “sideways growth” stages was performed by switching to the stripe electrode. A sand-glass-shaped domain was formed due to growth in the opposite direction after the domain touched the electrode. Stable periodical domain structures down to 300 nm were created and characterized in LNOI. Highly ordered comb-like domains of various alternating lengths, including four- and eight-fold increase periods, were produced by performing biased tip scanning along the Y axis. The obtained knowledge is important for the future development of nanodomain engineering methods in monocrystalline ferroelectric thin films on insulators.

Waveguides consisting of single-crystal lithium niobate thin film and oxidized titanium stripe

Strip-loaded waveguides were fabricated by the direct oxidation of a titanium film based on the single-crystal lithium niobate. The method avoided the surface roughness problems that are normally introduced during dry etching of waveguide sidewalls. Propagation modes of the composite strip waveguide were analyzed by a full-vectorial finite difference method. The minimum dimensions of the propagation modes were calculated to be 0.7 μm(2) and 1.1 μm(2) for quasi-TM mode and quasi-TE mode at 1550 nm when the thickness of the LN layer and TiO(2) strip was 660 nm and 95 nm, respectively. The optical intensity was as high as 93% and was well confined in the LN layer for quasi-TM polarization. In this experiment, the propagation losses for the composite strip waveguide with 6 μm wide TiO(2) were 14 dB/cm for quasi-TM mode and 5.8 dB/cm for quasi-TE mode, respectively. The compact hybrid structures have the potential to be utilized for compact photonic integrated devices.