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# Efficiency pedestal in quasi-phase-matching devices with random duty-cycle errors

E L Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
(Impact Factor: 3.18). 03/2011; 36(6):864-6. DOI: 10.1364/OL.36.000864
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT It is shown that random duty-cycle errors in quasi-phase-matching (QPM) nonlinear optical devices enhance the efficiency of processes far from the QPM peak. An analytical theory is shown to agree well with numerical solutions of second-harmonic generation (SHG) in disordered QPM gratings. The measured efficiency of 1550 nm band SHG in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide away from the QPM peak agrees with observations of domain disorder in a PPLN wafer by Zygo interferometry. If suppression of parasitic nonlinear interactions is important in a specific application of QPM devices, control of random duty-cycle errors is critical.

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##### Article: Estimation of random duty-cycle error in periodically poled lithium niobate by simple diffraction experiment
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ABSTRACT: Random duty-cycle errors (RDE) in ferroelectric quasi-phase-matching (QPM) devices not only affect the frequency conversion efficiency, but also generate non-phase-matched background noise. Although such noise contribution can be evaluated by measuring second-harmonic generation (SHG) spectrum with tunable narrow-band lasers, the limited tuning ranges usually results in inaccurate measurement of pure noise. Instead of SHG, we took a diffraction pattern which is mathematically equivalent to the SHG spectrum, but can be obtained with greater simplicity. With our proposed method applied to periodically poled lithium niobate, RDE could be evaluated more accurately from the pure background noise measurement.
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