NER: Ferro-Electric Nano Domain Technology

该计划的目标是开发新的基础技术，将周期性极化的LiNb03带入一种新的制度，在这种制度下，区域是亚波长尺度的。通过形成具有光波长周期的纳米域结构，可以在光波导内形成电控反射光栅，作为动态可切换的反射器件。通过使用例如激光干涉(全息)光刻形成的周期性电极应用电场极化技术，可以在LiNbO_3波导中形成纳米域光栅。基本的光栅结构可以用于各种结构中，以形成可调谐的分插滤光器、动态开关和路由器，以及具有纳秒响应时间和没有移动部件的可调谐激光器。通过在同一衬底上集成放大器，可以使这些器件的损耗减少。周期性纳米域结构的特殊实际意义在于它们使得周期域结构能够实现全新的应用，即超高速动态可切换光通信滤光器。我们的方法是一种平台技术，在各种光通信应用中具有广泛的适用性，从没有移动部件的光超高速WDM开关和路由器到小型高效可调谐激光器。

The objective of the proposed program is to develop new, fundamental technologies for bringing the periodically poled LiNb03 into a new regime in which the domains are of sub-wavelength scale. By forming a nanodomain structure with a period of the wavelength of light, an electrically controlled reflection grating can be formed inside the wave guide, which can serve as a dynamically switchable reflection device. A nanodomain grating can be formed in a LiNbO3 wave guide by applying electric field poling techniques using periodic electrodes, which are formed by, e.g., laser interference(holographic) lithography. The basic grating structure can be used in a variety of architectures to form tunable add-drop filters, dynamic switches and routers, as well as tunable lasers all with nanosecond response times and no moving parts. These devices can be made loss less by including an integrated amplifier onto the same substrate.The particular practical significance of periodic nanodomain structures is that they enable a completely new application of the periodic domain structures, namely, ultra fast dynamically switchable optical telecommunications filters.Our approach is a platform technology, with wide applicability in a variety of optical communications applications, ranging from optical ultra fast WDM switches and routers with no moving parts to small highly efficient tunable lasers.