REU: ER:TI:LiNbO3 Guided Wave Integrated Optic Amplifier

Ti：LiNbO 3基导波光学器件具有 产生了世界上最大的 复杂的集成光学结构， 约会 目前，这些设备缺乏 产生或放大光的能力。 作为 结果设计必须保持保守， 减少光损耗，从而将严重的 对允许数量的限制 集成光学元件及其封装 密度的 一些重要的功能，比如 信号再生和扇出（即，的 一个数据流对多个数据流的分配 也必须以电子方式完成- 重新施加带宽限制 以及电子设备的复杂性。 一 这些限制的解决方案是可积的 导波光学元件增益 之一 拟议研究的目标是 制作铌酸锂基导波 光放大器，包含Er 3+作为 放大介质 (Er具有很强的 发射线在~ 1500 nm，波长 对电信的重要性 系统和远远超出光学区域 LiNbO 3的光学损坏可能会导致 place.） 为此，PI 最近开发了一种方法， 加入更高浓度的 的Er到LiNbO 3比以前报道的。 这项研究有几个有前途的 波导电路利用了 交叉的独特性 波导管. 我们先前已经 发展出一套严谨的理论 正确地解释了耦合和 相交辐射损失特性 光波导，我们正在应用 该理论的设计和分析， Er：Ti：LiNbO_3导波光学 泵浦放大器和光源。 初步测量和计算 表明合理增益系数（g ~ 400 m-1@1mW泵浦功率） 得到了 我们建议继续我们的 增强Er掺入的研究 通过Ti的共扩散， 调查其他几个有希望的合作伙伴， 扩散剂 在这项研究中，还将审查 加入成对的稀土元素， 元素 这样的配对系统可以 提供额外的有用的泵转换 (e.g.,二极管激光器）以及更高效 能量传递机制 增益 位置选择性荧光 光谱学将用于表征 研究了稀土离子在 LiNbO 3矩阵，以及确定 取代位点和转运机制 对于这种共扩散过程。

Ti:LiNbO3-based guided wave optics has produced the largest and most sophisticated integrated optic structures to date. At present these devices lack the ability to produce or amplify light. As a result design must be kept conservative to reduce optical loss, thus placing severe limitations on the allowable number of integrated optic elements and their packing density. Certain important functions, like signal regeneration and fan-out (i.e., the distribution of one data stream to many outputs), must also be done electronically- re-imposing both the bandwidth limitations and the added complexity of electronics. A solution to these limitations is an integrable guided wave optical element gain. One of the goals of the proposed research is to fabricate a LiNbO3-based guided wave optical amplifier, incorporating Er3+ as the amplifying medium. (Er has a strong emission line at ~ 1500 nm, a wavelength of importance for telecommunications systems and well beyond the optical region where optical damage to LiNbO3 can take place.) Toward this end, the PI has recently developed a method for locally incorporating much higher concentrations of Er into LiNbO3 than previously reported. This research has several promising waveguide circuits which take advantage of the unique characteristics of intersecting waveguides. We have previously developed a rigorous theory which correctly explains both the coupling and radiative loss characteristics of intersecting optical waveguides and we are applying this theory to the design and analysis of Er:Ti:LiNbO3 guided wave optically pumped amplifiers and light sources. Preliminary measurements and calculations indicate that reasonable gain coefficients (g ~ 400m-1@ 1mW pump power) can be obtained. We propose to continue our study of the enhanced incorporation of Er by way of co-diffusion of Ti and to investigate several other promising co- diffusants. In this study will also examine the incorporation of pairs of rare earth elements. Such paired systems may provide additional useful pump transitions (e.g., diode laser) as well as more efficient energy transfer mechanisms for optical gain. Site-selective fluorescence spectroscopy will be used to characterize the optical properties of rare earth ions in the LiNbO3 matrix, as well as to identify the substitution site and transport mechanisms for this co-diffusion process.