PPLN Chips
Focusing on nonlinear frequency mixing, HCP develops PPMgO:LN bulk chips and PPMgO:LN waveguide chips on the basis of Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3), Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO3), MgO:PPLN (5mol.%), and MgO:PPLT (8mol.%). In general principle, PPLN bulk chips are easy to manage and sustain higher power (Watts level), while waveguide chips are superb in conversion efficiency but more challenging in light coupling. Lower power handling used to be the Achilles’ heel on waveguide application. However, with decades dedication and efforts, HCP’s waveguides break the limitation and reach up to 10W at C-band. This success tops the current PPLN products in the commercial market. Off-the-shelf bulk/waveguide chips are now ready for delivery anytime, anywhere. For other special and innovative photonics application, we also provide customization service for tailor-made ULTRA chips. It’s never too small to work. If easier handling is required, we offer PPLN chip-on-submount as well.
Note:
*The following accessories are available:
Oven/temperature controllers, crystal mounts and infrared sensing cards for beam detection. Please refer to PPLN accessories.
**PPLN-integrated modules and platforms are also feasible with built-in optics, filters, Peltier/Thermoelectric Cooler, photodiode, single mode Polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers, fiber connector and light sources. Please find details in PPLN Mixers and PPLN APP Boards.PPLN Bulk Chips
HC Photonics provides standard off-the-shelf PPLN (MgO:PPLN, PPMgO:LN) bulk chips, which are designed for the common laser applications. You may find the list of standard PPLN bulk chips in stock with wavelengths range from visible to mid-IR generation, configured as up-conversion (SHG/SFG) and down-conversion (DFG/OPA/OPG/OPO) and a special selection for fs applications. In terms of QPM structures, there are also uniform/single, multiple, and fan-out type for selection.
Key features
- Off-the-shelf PPLN for quick delivery and economic solution
- Up-conversion (SHG/SFG) and down-conversion (DFG/OPA/OPG/OPO) frequency mixing configurations
- Ranging from visible to mid-IR (UV and THz are applicable upon inquiry)
- Uniform (single)/multiple/fan-out/APPLN/chirp/cascade QPM structures
Periodical Poling Process
A ferroelectric material can be changed its dipole moment by applying external electric field. This kind of change can be achieved locally by combining with the lithography technique. The key to manufacturing PPLN is the process of inverting the crystal dipole moment and realize a periodically inverted domain structure.
The processes start with a 3-inch or 4-inch lithium niobate wafer. A mask is needed to define electrode patterns on the wafer, and the metal will be deposited after a typical lithography process. The application of a very high electric field (20kV/mm) will switch the position of the lithium ion and niobate ion within a defined domain, forming periodically flipped dipole orientations. The entire poling process is done within only a few milliseconds and the domain is inverted permanently after that.
Then the wafer is diced into the chip level with desired chip size for post-processes, like optical polishing and coating, and carefully inspected and packaged before delivery.
Available Conversion Configuration
5 mol.% MgO doped PPLN for Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) of UV to Mid-IR light from a laser source between 780-5000nm infrared wavelengths.
5 mol.% MgO doped PPLN for sum-frequency generation (SFG) of blue to red light from the conventional laser sources such as Yb/Er fiber laser, YAG laser or Ti:Sapphire lasers.
5 mol.% MgO doped PPLN for laser wavelength downconversion (e.g. optical parametric generation (OPG), difference frequency generation (DFG) of the conventional pump laser such as Yb fiber lasers, YAG laser, and Ti: Sapphire lasers.
>370 kinds of single, multiple, fan-out chips in stock for shipping today (see standard list)
Selected QPM structures and layout for reference
Example of various QPM patterns: Uniform/Single, Multiple (Tunable), Cascaded (SHG+SFG/DFG), Chirped (Spectrum Engineering), Fan-out (Continuous tunable) etc.
Contact us for other application wavelength ranges (e.g. UV or THz), QPM structures (e.g. APPLN, chirped or combination of fan-out & multiple), frequency mixing configurations (e.g. cascaded SHG+SFG/DFG) or other requirements (e.g. special dimension/angle /coating/chip-on mount/mixer packaging etc.).
PPLN Waveguide Chips
The waveguide can be manufactured on a periodically poled crystal to form a frequency conversion waveguide, such as PPLN waveguide in PPLN bulk crystal. PPLN bulk chips are easy to use and can handle higher optical power (up to a few Watts or more); PPLN waveguide chips provide much higher conversion efficiency and thus enable several applications beyond what can be realized by PPLN bulk (although with limitation in power handling and also challenging in practical alignment for coupling optimization).
Key Features
- Standard-in-stocks for your “quick plug-in” nonlinear frequency mixing applications
- available for up-conversion (SHG/SFG) and down-conversion (DFG/OPA/OPG) frequency mixing configurations
- available for visible to mid-IR generation; also contact us for UV and THz
- available for uniform or chirped QPM structures
HCP provides two types of the waveguide to customers to satisfy the requirement of the different applicaticatons, one type is proton in-diffused waveguide and the other type is ridge waveguide.
Compared to the traditional ion or proton in-diffused waveguide, the ridge waveguide has a high damage threshold and wide-operation wavelength range due to the high refractive index difference of the core (LiNbO3) and the cladding. The good confinement leads to good conversion efficiency and feasibility of extremely low propagation losses. For the more technical introduction please see PPLN waveguide type.
Most of the waveguides are manufactured upon request, but some of them are available in stock for popular applications. See the typical specification below and just inquiry us with your specific wavelength.
Following table shows the typical specifications of the standard waveguide, for ordering:
1. Select the serial # covering your interested wavelength (e.g. 1064 nm SHG corresponding to WG-G)
2. Send an inquiry with specified wavelength to us and we will respond you the available waveguide length in stock.
3. For the wavelength not listed, please just send us the inquiry for detailed specifications.
*1 MFD (mode field diameter) tolerance +/-10%
*2 Normalized efficiency has a tolerance of +/-20% on the specified value (e.g. WG-G: 160-240%/W/cm^2)
PPLN Custom/ULTRA Chips
We also flexibly provide design/manufacture services of Custom/ULTRA PPLN Chips tailored to your special applications, with specs beyond current industry standard, or your never-been-done innovation. Examples are 80mm-long or 40mm-wide multiple-fanout PPLN chips. Additional examples are PPLN chips for active Q-switch elements, PPLN chips as band-selected TE/TM mode converter or modulator, Two dimensional (2D) QPM patterns, and etc. Several special structures can possibly be designed/manufactured based on your innovation.
Key features
- Specs tailored to your application optimization or beyond current industry standard
- Explore together with you for your application optimization and innovation
- Available for special dimension/angle/coating/chip-on mount/mixer packaging
Available Period x Thickness x Width x Length
Angle/Wedge polishing
Example QPM configurations for different applications
A multiple grating structure with different QPM lengths for ultrafast pulse tuning/or optimization
A multiple grating structure with different QPM chirping rate for bandwidth tuning and/or optimization
A multiple grating structure with different QPM fan-out periods for continuous wavelength-fine tuning in the selected wavelength bands
Fan-out types - Regular & Full-poled
PPLN Chip-on-submount
For your chip handling and integration convenience, HCP provides PPLN chip-on-submount solutions. Example application scenarios are for very short chips in ultrafast applications (with chip length as short as 0.3 mm) or for very long chips in CW-OPO applications (with chip length as long as 50 mm or 80 mm). With PPLN chip-on-submount, you can easily integrate PPLN chips to your pre-designed mechanical housing and speed up your applications.
Key features
- Standard format or custom to your pre-designed mechanical housing
- Easy handling/integration or mechanical/thermal stress-optimization
Example PPLN chip-on-mount for 0.3mm long chip for ultrafast frequency mixing applications
Chip holder and oven set options
