Micro-Raman characterization of Zn-diffused channel waveguides in Tm3+:LiNbO3

In this work micro-Raman scattering experiments have been performed in LiNbO3:Tm3+ samples with waveguides fabricated by Zn2+ indiffusion. The results shown that Zn2+ ions enter the lattice in Li+ sites, but also in interstitial positions. This produces a compaction of the lattice close to the surface of the sample, generating the waveguide. It is shown that this region is surrounded by a different area in which the lattice is relaxed to recover the characteristic lattice parameters of LiNbO3:Tm3+. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America