Demonstration and optical characteristics of electro-optic Bragg modulators in periodically poled lithium niobate in the near-infrared

We report the infrared operation of a bulk optical Bragg modulator based on electro-optically induced refractive index gratings in z-cut periodically poled lithium niobate. Efficiencies in the first order of 45% for 1064 nm e-polarized light and 30% for o-polarized light were achieved, with maximum on/off ratios of 15:1 and 9:1, respectively. Field-induced light scattering effects due to poling are observed at higher drive voltages and compromised device performance due to these scattering effects is predicted to limit long-wavelength operation of these devices. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.