Microstructuring of lithium niobate using differential etch-rate between inverted and non-inverted ferroelectric domains

Single crystal samples of lithium niobate have been spatially patterned with photoresist, and subsequently domain inverted using electric field poling, to produce a range of two dimensional spatial domain structures. Differential etching has subsequently been carried out using mixtures of hydrofluor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Barry, I.E (Author), Ross, G.W (Author), Smith, P.G.R (Author), Eason, R.W (Author), Cook, G. (Author)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 1998-11.
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Summary:Single crystal samples of lithium niobate have been spatially patterned with photoresist, and subsequently domain inverted using electric field poling, to produce a range of two dimensional spatial domain structures. Differential etching has subsequently been carried out using mixtures of hydrofluoric and nitric acids, at a range of temperatures between room temperature and the boiling point. The structures produced show very smooth, well defined, deep features, which have a range of applications in optical ridge waveguides, alignment structures, V-grooves, and micro-tips. Details are given of the fabrication procedures, and examples of structures are shown.