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Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology

© Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta

Last update: 2008-05-09

Definition: a technique for achieving quasi-phase matching of nonlinear interactions in a transparent crystal material

Periodic poling of nonlinear crystal materials is a technique for obtaining quasi-phase matching [1] of nonlinear interactions. It involves a process which generates a periodic reversal of the domain orientation (→ domain inversion) in a nonlinear crystal, so that the sign of the nonlinear coefficient also changes.

Ferroelectric Domain Engineering

The most common technique for periodic poling is ferroelectric domain engineering [2]. This involves the application of a strong electric field to a ferroelectric crystal via patterned electrodes on the crystal surface, which typically have a period between a few microns and some tens of microns, and are usually produced with a photolithographic process. The poling period (i.e., the period of the electrode pattern) determines the wavelengths for which certain nonlinear processes can be quasi-phase-matched. Domain reversal occurs for a field strength above the so-called coercive field strength, which is e.g. ∼21 kV/mm in congruent lithium niobate (LiNbO₃). Such high field strengths have to be applied with great care to avoid discharges in air and the destruction of the crystal. The process is particularly challenging for thick samples (more than 0.5 mm), where the poling quality is sometimes good only near the electrodes. Another challenge is to achieve a high poling quality for small poling periods (well below 10 μm), as e.g. required for frequency doubling to the visible spectral range. Stoichiometric lithium niobate (SLN) has a much lower coercive field strength of roughly 2 kV/mm, which greatly facilitates periodic poling, even for thicker samples.

Note that the details of the poling process have to be optimized for each particular type of nonlinear crystal; this can involve electrode materials and details of electrode fabrication, the magnitude, shape and duration of applied electric pulses (often actively controlled with real-time monitoring e.g. of the flown electric charge or optical polarization changes), and the choice of temperature during the poling process. There are also methods to suppress domain back-switching, or to exploit backswitching for high quality poling.

Ferroelectric nonlinear crystal materials which are suitable for periodic poling with electric fields include lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), lithium tantalate (LiTaO₃), potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP, KTiOPO₄) and KTA (KTiOAsO₄). The periodically poled materials are often given a name beginning with "PP", for example PPKTP (periodically poled KTP), PPLN (periodically poled lithium niobate) or PPLT (periodically poled lithium tantalate). PPLN and PPLT crystals are often used e.g. in optical parametric oscillators or frequency doublers, and are also available in the form of nonlinear waveguides. The combination of the high nonlinearity of PPLN with strong confinement in a waveguide allows for efficient nonlinear interactions even at rather low power levels.

Periodic Poling of Glasses

There have also been interesting attempts to do periodic poling of optical glass fibers. This is possible because the application of a strong electric field (often applied in a vacuum chamber, together with elevated temperature) for some time can induce a χ⁽²⁾ nonlinearity even in the originally isotropic glass. Even if the achieved nonlinear coefficient is not very high, some moderate length of glass with a decent poling quality could allow for efficient nonlinear frequency conversion within all-fiber devices.

Bibliography

See also: quasi-phase matching, nonlinear crystal materials

Categories: materials, methods, nonlinear optics