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Intense broad absorption bands centered around 1.7, 2.5, 3.1, and 3.7 eV take place in Er3+-diffused layer formed near MgO (5 mol%)-doped LiNbO3 crystal surface by in-diffusion of Er metal under Li-poor atmosphere. These bands are tentatively attributed to the defect absorption of small polarons, bipolarons, F-centers, and Q-polarons created due to Er3+ in-diffusion and Li2O loss from the crystal. It is interesting that the number, type, area, and peaking position of the bands can be controlled by the diffusion temperature and further oxidation treatment. Such material is a promising medium for data storage based upon two-color holography. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Locally Er3+-doped noncongruent, Li-deficient Ti:Er:LiNbO3 strip waveguide was fabricated with a technological process in sequence of preparation of Li-deficient LiNbO3 substrate using Li-poor vapor transport equilibration (VTE), Er3+, and Ti4+ diffusion in wet O2. The Li2O content change was evaluated from the measured birefringence. The Ti4+ and Er3+ profile characteristics in the waveguide were studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The results show that the VTE and subsequent Er3+ diffusion procedures resulted in totally ∼0.8 mol% Li2O content reduction. The Ti4+ profile follows a sum of two error functions in the width direction and a Gaussian function in the depth direction of waveguide. The Er3+ profile follows also a Gaussian function. At 1130 °C, the Ti4+ surface/depth diffusivity and surface concentration are 8.5 ± 1.3/1.98 ± 0.06 μm2/h and ∼7 mol%, respectively, and the Er3+ diffusivity and surface concentration are (12.8 ± 0.3) × 10−2 μm2/h and ∼0.6 mol%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Near-stoichiometric (NS) (Mg:)Er:LiNbO3 crystals were grown from melts containing 0.0/0.5, 0.5/0.5, and 1.0/0.5 mol%/mol% MgO/Er2O3. Crystal composition and optical properties studies show that the Li2O contents in these crystals increase all by ∼1 mol% relative to the congruent point. The 1.0 mol% MgO-doped NS crystal is just near optical damage threshold and withstands a 488 nm light intensity >0.74 MW/cm2 without optical damage. Unpolarized absorption spectra of these NS crystals were measured, and the Er3+ absorption cross-section spectra were determined. The Er3+ spectroscopic properties were studied by Judd–Ofelt theory. The results show that as the crystal composition approaches the stoichiometry, the Er3+ spectroscopic properties change definitely. The Er3+ ion in the NS crystal has smaller absorption cross section and hence weaker oscillator strength, lower emission rate, and longer radiative lifetime. Nevertheless, the radiative quantum efficiency is retained. In addition, the MgO codoping has less effect on the Er3+ spectroscopic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congruent Er:Mg:LiNbO3 crystals were grown by the Czochralski method from the melts containing fixed 0.5 mol% Er2O3 while varied MgO content ranged from 0.0 to 8.0 mol%. The Mg and Er contents in the crystals were determined by neutron activation analysis. In the presence of Er codopant, the Mg threshold concentration with respect to optical damage is determined from the measured OH absorption spectra. The results show that the Er codopant has less effect on both the Mg threshold concentration and Mg segregation coefficient, which is within 1.13–1.23 as the Mg concentration is below the threshold while within 0.88–0.98 when above the threshold, consistent with the only MgO doping case. On the other hand, the practical Er concentration in the crystal is closely related to the Mg content and shows definite Mg threshold effect. Below the threshold, the Er concentration decreases linearly with the increased Mg concentration in the crystal; above the threshold, the decrease is more remarkable and follows another linear function. The Mg concentration effect on the Er segregation coefficient is discussed from the viewpoint of the Mg doping effect on the solubility of Er ions in the crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At 1100 °C, the diffusion properties of Ti4+ into congruent LiNbO3 crystals codoped with 0.5 mol% Er2O3 and different MgO concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mol% have been studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Three Y-cut and three Z-cut plates with different Mg doping levels were coated with a 60-nm-thick Ti film at first and then annealed at 1100 °C for 28 h in a wet O2 atmosphere. SIMS was used to analyze depth profile characteristics of diffused Ti ions and the constituent elements of the substrate as well. The results show that the diffusion reservoir was exhausted and the Ti metal film was completely diffused. All measured Ti profiles follow a Gaussian function. No Mg out-diffusion accompanied the Ti in-diffusion procedure for all crystals studied. The 1/e diffusion depth is similar to 8.3/10.2, 7.4/8.7, and 6.6/8.2 ± 0.2/0.2 μm/μm for the Y/Z-cut crystal with the Mg doping level of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mol%, respectively, yielding a Ti4+ diffusivity of 0.62/0.93, 0.49/0.67, and 0.39/0.60 ± 0.03/0.03 (μm2/h)/(μm2/h), respectively. The diffusion shows definite anisotropy and a considerable MgO doping level effect. Under the same Mg doping level, the diffusion in a Z-cut crystal is faster. The diffusivity decreases with the increase of the Mg doping level. This effect is qualitatively explained from the viewpoint of the Mg doping effect on concentration of the intrinsic defects in LiNbO3 crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]