Electro-optic properties of rare earth ions doped lithium niobate

International audienceCongruent lithium niobate (LN) doped with rare-earth ions is a promisingmaterial for integrated optic applications combining the propertiesstraightforwardly associated to the dopant with lasing and good electro-optic(EO) properties. By direct technique based on optical arrangement of Mach-Zehnder interferometer associated to the Modulation Depth Method using He-Ne laser with the beam at the wavelength of 633 nm and at room temperature,we have experimentally determined the figure of merit F = n3reff, (n is therefractive index and reff, the effective EO coefficient) and finally calculated theEO coefficients reff of the third-column of the unclamped electro-optic tensor ofsingly (Yb3+, Ho3+, Tm3+) and doubly (Er3+-Yb3+) doped LN crystals. It is foundthat in all the studied opto-geometric configurations, the unclamped figure ofmerit and consequently the corresponding electro-optic coefficients of thecrystals under study remain quasi-constant in the considered dopantconcentration range (0-1mol%). As the figure of merit, F qualifies crystals forelectro-optic modulation and laser applications, all reported results confirm thatthe LN doped amd/or co-doped with rare-earth elements are very promisingversatile candidates for several multifunctional nonlinear devices inoptoelectronic and laser applications