Integrated nonlinear optics: lithium niobate-on-insulator waveguides and resonators

Traditionally, bulk lithium niobate has primarily been used in surface acoustic wave devices and optical modulators, with its use in optics limited primarily by the lack of a method of creating low loss, high index waveguides. Thin film single crystal lithium niobate-on-insulator is a promising platform for future applications in integrated optics due to the availability of a strong electro-optic effect in this material, however. We have fabricated and characterized low-loss waveguides (< 5 dB/cm), ring and racetrack resonators, and other structures in this material system that could potentially be useful in future applications.