Microring resonators are a fundamental building block for integrated optical filters, and have both modulation and waveform generation applications. A hybrid chalcogenide (As2S3) on titanium diffused (Ti:LiNbO3) waveguide platform has been developed to realize tunable microring resonators on a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate. The use of a LiNbO3 substrate allows for electro-optic tuning, which is demonstrated for the first time on an As2S3 guided optical mode. While optical modes confined in diffused waveguides are commonly electro-optically tuned, the use of a rib waveguide external to the substrate poses new design challenges. Simulation work to determine the optimum electrode design was carried out, while also taking into account the limitations of working with a low melting temperature chalcogenide material. The tuning of this hybrid As2S3 on Ti:LiNbO3 device structure is demonstrated with fabricated Mach-Zehnder interferometers and ring resonators. Electro-optic tuning of the TM polarization utilizing the r13 LiNbO3 tuning coefficient is shown, yielding results that show an improvement over previous tunable LiNbO3 microring resonators. Simulations are also carried out to show the waveform generating capabilities of this hybrid device platform.

Le premier volet de cette thèse est consacré à la modélisation des phénomènes de transport dans le LN. Partant d'une analyse critique des modèles de bande usuels, nous montrons leur inadéquation dans le cas du LN et nous proposons un modèle de saut basé sur la théorie des petits polarons. Nous étudions d'abord par simulation Monte-Carlo la décroissance d'une population de polarons liés NbLi4+ relaxant vers des pièges profonds FeLi3+. Nous montrons que les pièges FeLi3+ ont des rayons effectifs particulièrement grands, rayons qui augmentent encore à température décroissante, et limitent considérablement les longueurs de diffusion des polarons. Les résultats de simulations sont ensuite confrontés aux résultats expérimentaux obtenus par différentes techniques ; Absorption photo-induite, Raman, Enregistrement holographique et Pompe-sonde. Le deuxième volet de cette thèse est consacré aux applications électro-optiques dans le LN périodiquement polarisé (PPLN). Sous l’effet d’une tension électrique, l’indice de réfraction du PPLN est périodiquement diminué et augmenté, formant ainsi un réseau d’indice activable électriquement. Un premier composant utilisant l’effet électro-optique dans du PPLN a été développé et démontré expérimentalement. Dans ce composant, la lumière est défléchie sous l’effet de la tension électrique par le réseau d’indice. Ce déflecteur de Bragg atteint une efficacité de diffraction proche de 100% avec une faible tension de commande de l’ordre de 5 V. Un deuxième composant a également été proposé, où la lumière se propage perpendiculairement aux parois de domaines du PPLN. Dans cette configuration un réflecteur de Bragg électro-optique peut être réalisé / The first part of this thesis is devoted to the modeling of transport phenomena in the LN. From a critical analysis of the usual band models, we show their inadequacy in the case of LN and we propose a hopping model based on the theory of small polarons. We first study by Monte-Carlo simulation the population decay of bound polarons NbLi4+ in deep traps FeLi3+. We show that the traps (FeLi3+) have particularly large effective radii, which increase further at decreasing temperature, and considerably limit the diffusion lengths of the polarons. The results of simulations are then compared with experimental results obtained by different techniques; Light-induced absorption, Raman, Holographic storage and Pump-Probe. The second part of this thesis is devoted to electro-optical applications in the periodically poled LN (PPLN). Under the effect of an electrical voltage, the refractive index of the PPLN is periodically decreased and increased, thus forming an electrically activatable index grating. A first component using the electro-optical effect in PPLN has been developed and demonstrated experimentally. In this component, the light is deflected under the effect of the electrical voltage by the index grating. This Bragg deflector achieves a diffraction efficiency of close to 100% with a low drive voltage of the order of 5 V. A second component has also been proposed, where light propagates perpendicularly to the domain walls of the PPLN. In this configuration an electro-optic Bragg reflector can be realized

Este trabalho tem por objetivo principal a caracterização dos microcristais de niobato de lítio (LiNbO3) dopados com óxido de cromo (CrO3) e com óxido de ferro (Fe2O3), crescidos no Departamento de Física e Ciências dos Materiais do Instituto de Física e Química de São Carlos - USP. Para isso, utilizamos as seguintes técnicas: Ataque Químico Preferncial, Ressonância Paragnética Eletrônica (RPE), Absorção Ótica no Visível e Infravermelho Próximo e a Técnica Holográfica. Através da técnica de ataque químico preferencial os domínios ferroelétricos destes cristais foram observados. Os possíveis sítios que os íons Cr3+ e os íons Fe3+ ocupam na rede do LiNbO3 foram estudados por RPE, e os resultados obtidos indicam que o íon Cr3+ ocupa preferencialmente as vacâncias estruturais, enquanto os íons Fe3+ ocupam o sítio do nióbio ou do lítio. O efeito de tratamentos térmicos em atmosferas redutoras e oxidantes sobre a concentração dos íons Fe3+, Fe2+ e dos centros OH-, foram estudados através das técnicas de RPE, absorção ótica no visível e no infravermelho. Através da técnica holográfica, foram observadas altas eficiências de difração holográficas em cristais dopados com ferro. Foram feitas também medidas da variação temporal desta eficiência em cristais tratados e não tratados termicamente, e em alguns casos o efeito de acoplamento de ondas foi observado. / The present work shows the characterization of the lithium niobate (LiNbO3) doped with chromium oxide and iron oxide. Those crystals were grown in the Departamento de Física e Ciência dos Materiais - IFQSC - USP São Carlos. Several experimental techniques were applied like Preferential Chemical Etching, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Near Infrared and Visible Optical Absorption and the Holagraphic Technique. Through the preferential chemical etching we observed the ferroelectric domains. The probable Cr3+ and Fe3+ ion site were studied with EPR, it shows the Cr3+ ions fill possibly structural vacancies, while the Fe3+ ions possibly take place on Li1+ or Nb5+ substitucionally. The thermal treatment effects at reducing and oxidizing atmospheres under several Fe3+, Fe2+ and OH- concentration were studied through EPR, visible and near infrared optical absorption. By using the holographic technique we observed holographic diffraction highly efficient in iron doped crystals. Also were made time dependence efficiency at thermally treated and non treated samples, and in some cases we observed wave coupling effect.

Neste trabalho, apresentamos resultados da caracterização Magneto-Óptica de íons terras-raras (Nd3+ e Yb3+) em monocristais de niobato de lítio (LiNbO3). Medidas de Dicroísmo Circular Magnético (MCD) e de Emissão Circularmente Polarizada em Presença de Campo Magnético (MCPE) foram realizadas pela primeira vez nesses sistemas. Os resultados foram obtidos à temperatura de 2K, e em campos magnéticos de até 5 T. Através desses estudos, foi possível identificar os números quânticos cristalinos (&#956) dos subníveis Zeeman desses íons. A partir da dependência do sinal de MCD com a intensidade de campo magnético, determinou¬se o fator giromagnético efetivo g// do estado fundamental de cada íon, obtendo-se os valores: g//Nd = (1,4 &#177 0,1) e g//Yb = (4,7 &#177 0,1). Esses valores foram confirmados através de medidas de espectroscopia de Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica (EPR), realizadas a baixa temperatura (4-8 K), em banda X. Os espectros de EPR foram tomados em função da orientação relativa do campo magnético externo com o eixo c cristalino dos cristais, em 3 planos perpendiculares entre si. Os espectros de EPR mostram a existência de diferentes sítios ocupados pelos íons terras-raras. O sítio mais populado tem simetria axial, e para esse centro determinaram-se os fatores g efetivos g//Nd = (1,440 &#177 0,005) e g//Nd = (2,959 &#177 0,004), para o íon Nd3+, e g//Yb = (4,705 &#177 0,008) e g//Yb = (2,693 &#177 0,005) para o íon Yb3+. Espectros de MCD e MCPE obtidos para um cristal de rubi ilustram as convenções utilizadas e atestam que o sistema experimental funciona adequadamente. Os espectros obtidos nessa amostra também são originais, tendo sido resolvidas as transições permitidas com luz circularmente polarizada entre os subníveis Zeeman correspondentes aos níveis de energia 4A2 e &#8254E (2E) do íon Cr3+. / In this work we present Magneto-Optícal characterizations of rare-earth ions (Nd3+ e Yb3+) in lithium niobate (LiNbO3) single crystals. Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) and Magnetic Circularly Polarized Emission (MCPE) measurements were performed for the first time on those systems. Spectra were obtained at 2K and at magnetic field strength up to 5T. From these studies, it was possible to assign the crystal quantum number (&#956) of the Zeeman sublevels of these ions, so that the sign and allowance of the electronic transitions could be predicted. From the dependence of suitable MCD spectral lines on the magnetic field strength, the effective parallel gyromagnetic factor (g//) of the ground state for each of the rare earth ions has been determined to be: g//Nd = (1,4 &#177 0,1) e g//Yb = (4,7 &#177 0,1). These values are in dose agreement to those obtained by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, at 4-8 K, and at X-band frequency. EPR spectra were recorded as a function of the external magnetic field orientation relative to the c crystalline axis in three mutual perpendicular planes. These spectra show evidence of multiple sites occupied by the rare-earth ions. For the most intense line seen in the spectra of each ion, it could be clearly assigned a site with axial symmetry, with effective g factors of g//Nd= (1,440 &#177 0,005) and g//Nd = (2,959 &#177 0,004), for the Nd3+3+ ion, and g//Yb = (4,705 &#177 0,008) and g//Yb= (2,693 &#177 0,005) for the Yb3+ ion. MCD and MCPE spectra recorded for a ruby crystal shows the experimental conventions used so far in this work, as well as assure that the experimental system works properly. These results are original ones, by means of which, the spectral transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the 4A2 and &#8254E (2E) of the Cr3+ ions in ruby could be resolved.

Guias de onda de luz foram fabricados por difusão térmica de Titânio em substratos de LiNbO3. Os índices efetivos dos modos guiados foram medidos usando o método de acoplamento por prismas e a equação de onda resolvida numericamente usando a aproximação WKB. Profundidade de difusão, variação máxima do índice de refração e o perfil da concentração de Titânio são calculados para um guia que suporta três modos TE / Optical waveguides have been fabricated by thermal diffusion of Titanium into LiNO3 substrate. The effective indices of guided modes have been measured using a prism coupling method and the wave equation has been solute numerically using the WKB approximation. The diffusion depth, maximum refractive index change and titanium concentration profited was calculated for one waveguide that support three TE modes

La thèse montre des solutions pour la réalisation de circuits photoniques intégrés utilisant le caractère volumétrique et les très faibles pertes en propagation des solitons spatiaux. On s'intéresse aux éléments de base : interconnexions, sources et router optique (comme dispositif d'élaboration). Interconnexions et sources sont réalisé dans le niobate de lithium (LN) qui fournis des structures avec une très longue durée temporelle. Le fonctionnement d'un router optique est démontré dans le semiconducteur photo-réactif (PR) InP:Fe en raison de sa sensitivité aux longueurs d'onde infrarouges (IR) et à son temps de réponse rapide. On montre que les pertes en propagation dans les interconnexions solitoniques peuvent être réduites à nouveau en utilisant un faisceau en polarisation ordinaire qui augmente la variation d'indice de réfraction induite. La réalisation de sources intégrées solitoniques est étudié pour avoir émission en bleu à 400nm et en IR à 1530nm. Celles en bleu sont obtenues par génération de deuxième harmonique ; le rôle du bleu pour la formation des solitons est montré et ses propriétés physiques étudiées. Celles en IR sont obtenues en dopant le LN avec des ions (actifs) d'erbium. Leurs effets sur les paramètres PR sont présentés et les solitons spatiaux sont obtenus en excitant l'absorption soit du LN soit de l'erbium. L'amplification de la luminescence est étudié numériquement. Le routage optique dans le InP:Fe est obtenu en faisant interagir deux solitons cohérents et en changeant leur phase relative. L'augmentation de la séparation ou leur fusion est analysé en fonction de la distance entre eux, température et intensité de la lumière / Solutions for the realization of integrated photonic circuits with the advantages that spatial solitons offer, like their volumetric nature and the very low propagation losses are shown. Interconnections, sources and optical router (as signal elaboration device) are investigated. Interconnections and sources are experimentally demonstrated in lithium niobate (LN) that provides long-lasting structures thanks to its very long dielectric relaxation time. The optical router working principle is realized in the photorefractive semiconductor InP:Fe because of its sensitivity in infrared radiation and its fast response time. To improve solitonic interconnections, an analysis based on propagation losses in function of light polarization and LN anisotropy is done. The key role played by an ordinary polarized beam on the induced refractive index variation is exploited. Integrated sources in solitonic waveguides for the emission of blue at 400nm and of an infrared beam at 1530nm are investigated. Sources emitting in blue are obtained via a second harmonic generation process ; blue seed role in spatial soliton formation is demonstrated and its physical properties are investigated as well. The infrared one is achieved by doping LN with (active) erbium ions. Their effects on the photorefractive parameters are exploited and spatial solitons realized both pumping direcly erbium absorption lines and the LN ones. Luminescence amplification is studied numerically. Optical routing in InP:Fe is achieved by making two coherent solitons interact by changing their relative phase. Separation increasing or fusion is analyzed in function of mutual distance, temperature and light intensity

La versatilité de LiNbO3 est bien connue dans le domaine de l’électronique acoustique (filtres SAW), de l’optique non linéaire et de l’optique électronique. Alors que les applications de LiNbO3 congruent sont répandues dans le domaine de l’électronique acoustique et de l’optique où les puissances ne sont pas très élevées, le seuil de dommage optique étant relativement bas, les applications sont limitées dans le domaine des fortes puissances lumineuses. Le seuil de dommage optique de LiNbO3 stœchiométrique est plus haut et rend nécessaire l’utilisation d’une méthode de croissance plus difficile (flux). Les difficultés de la méthode de croissance par flux justifie la recherche en vue de développer des méthodes alternatives ou d’améliorer les méthodes élaborées. Dans ma thèse j’ai présenté des solvants alternatifs á la croissance de monocristaux de LiNbO3 à partir du système ternaire K2O-Li2O-Nb2O5. J’ai prouvé qu’il est possible de faire croître des cristaux stœchiométriques par la méthode HTTSSG à partir des systèmes ternaires X2O-Li2O-Nb2O5 (X = Rb, Cs). Les diagrammes de phase tracés et précisés au cours de ce travail sont importants et donnent la possibilité de composer le flux à partir duquel il est possible d’obtenir le cristal de son choix. Comme pour les matériaux typiquement non stœchiométrique, les paramètres physiques de LiNbO3 sont très sensibles aux moindres variations de la composition (± 0.01 mol%). La détermination précise de la composition est donc très importante. Dans ma thèse, j’ai élaboré une nouvelle méthode de haute précision basée sur le rapport des deux principaux pics vibrationnels OH- dans l’infrarouge. Cette méthode a une précision qui satisfait les exigences de qualification des cristaux de LiNbO3 / The versatility of the application of LiNbO3 is well-known in the practical fields of acousto-electronics and non-linear optics and electro-optics. The optical damage threshold of stoichiometric LiNbO3 is higher so it is more suitable for electo-optical and non-linear optical applications than the congruent crystal which can be grown easier. The growth difficulties justify the development of alternative preparation methods or the improvement of the existing methods. This emphasizes the importance of the growth of stoichiometric LiNbO3 by the HTTSSG method not only from the K2O - Li2O - Nb2O5 ternary system but from the X2O - Li2O - Nb2O5 (X = Rb, Cs) systems as well. Using the presented phase diagrams the composition of the solution in equilibrium with a custom-tailored crystal composition can be determined. Most of the physical parameters of LiNbO3 are composition dependent. Even a small change of the composition (± 0.01 mol%) causes large differences in the properties so the determination of the Li2O content of the crystal with the highest possible accuracy is very important. The accuracy of the composition determination – described in detail in my thesis – based on the intensity ratio of the two characteristic bands in the OH- vibrational spectra of the near stoichiometric LiNbO3 satisfies the requirements imposed by the applications

The research presented in this dissertation focuses on improvements made to lithium niobate leaky-mode modulators for both holographic video and optogenetic applications. The specific improvements found herein are: (1) characterization of leaky-mode modulators to decrease driver bandwidth to match that of commodity graphics processing units, (2) the implementation of surface relief gratings as input couplers to replace rutile prism coupling, (3) the addition of backside surface relief gratings to create an orthogonal output face for the leaky-mode modulator, and (4) the creation of superimposed surface relief gratings in lithium niobate to enable multiple wavelength coupling at a single input angle. These advancements for leaky-mode modulators open avenues in display technologies and optogenetics. As a display technology, the leaky-mode modulator can not only be used more effectively in holographic monitors, but can stand alone as a transparent near-eye display. In regards to optogenetics, these technologies allow for the creation of a highly advanced light delivery method, with multiple illumination angles through non-mechanical steering, a large output area to probe size ratio, and support for simultaneous multiple wavelength output in both common and disparate locations.

In this dissertation, I will present the various work I have accomplished in regards to the design, simulation, and fabrication of holovideo and holodeck display technology. This includes: 1) design and analysis of a wavelength division multiplexing LiNbO3 waveguide device, 2) loss characterization and reduction (by way of reverse proton exchange) 3) design of a curved, near-eye AR display, and 4) a basis for acoustic holodeck technology (meant to service a system built from our optical devices). All these accomplishments represent, in concert, a manifestation of LiNbO3's capacity to serve as the building material central to modern holovideo displays. It is my hope that many future technologies will be built using these waveguides as their base.

Within this thesis, photo-induced mechanisms of the light-matter interaction are investigated in tailored and photofunctional materials that differ significantly in their optical and structural properties. The individual coupling mechanisms in congruently melted, nominally undoped or iron doped lithium niobate crystals as well as in structurally disordered photoswitchable molecules embedded into a solid state polymer are examined in particular by the principle of holographic grating recording and transient absorption spectroscopy which provide new insight into a variety of material response properties. In case of photoswitchable ruthenium sulfoxide compounds, the underlying mechanism can be unambiguously assigned to a photochromic material response evoked by a photochemical reaction, i.e., a non-instantaneous, local ligand isomerisation. Comparable results are obtained for iron-doped, oxidized lithium niobate where holographic grating recording is related to the photophysical generation of transient excitonic states whose photochromic properties are characterized by targeted ns-pump, supercontinuum probe spectroscopy. In the event of nominally undoped lithium niobate, the holographic amplification of two sub-picosecond pulses is attached to the phenomenon of two-beam coupling on a self-induced dynamic grating. By correlating the individually obtained mechanisms of the light-matter interaction and the light-induced material response, generally accepted conclusions on a microscopic level can be achieved. A major influence of the internal structure and orientation of the excited states, i.e., an appropriate threedimensional structural arrangement, is deduced as a prerequisite for the formation of light-induced, macroscopic refractive index changes while absorption and microscopic refractive index alterations linked via the Kramers-Kronig relation are unaffected. In systems featuring a random distribution of excited states, an orientational order might be achieved as a consequence of linear polarized light, i.e., by polarization structuring. Moreover, if the photorefractive effect can be ruled out, the material response in lithium niobate can be solely assigned to a local alteration of the transient electronic states, i.e., to the photochromic properties of polarons and/or excitonic states, which is in particular comparable to the linkage isomerism of molecular photoswitchable molecules. In addition, the influence of structural parameters on the light-matter/surface interaction is studied on the μm-scale by analyzing the diffraction phenomenon arising from a relief grating. A considerable impact on the surface grating assisted coupling is determined by the transition from cw-lasers to ultrashort laser pulses which enables interference quenching. However, this phenomenon is of no consequence in case of selfinduced holographic gratings.