Electro-optically controlled beam deflection and switching via total internal reflection at a domain-engineered interface in LiNbO₃

Abstract

We report a novel beam deflection and switching method that occurs due to the electro-optic effect under applied field when a beam at grazing incidence is incident on an interface between anti-parallel domains in a sample of LiNbO₃. We present data obtained for wavelengths of 0.543µm and 1.52µm and compare this with theoretical models. For deflection, improvements can be obtained for both range of angular deflection and transmission uniformity, by faceting the exit face of the device at an optimum angle. A theoretical analysis is presented for this configuration and compared with data obtained for a wavelength of 1.52µm. A practical geometry would permit a deflection of ~140mrad for an applied voltage of 1kV. For switching there are many attractive properties, as TIR is a 100% efficient process this leads to the possibility of high contrast ratios; current data shows contrast ratios greater than 100:1 (20dB). Other properties include relatively simple fabrication procedure, low drive voltages and a wavelength dependence that is less than other electro-optic devices such as Pockels cells.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Sakellaris Mailis: orcid.org/0000-0001-8100-2670

ORCID for Peter G.R. Smith: orcid.org/0000-0003-0319-718X

ORCID for R.W. Eason: orcid.org/0000-0001-9704-2204

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