Mode Tailoring in a Ridge-type Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate Waveguide

Abstract

We present a simple and powerful method for mode generation and transformation in a ridge-type periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide by the use of second-order nonlinear effect and local-temperature-control technique. We show that a Hermite-Gaussian (HG) mode wave (among HG(00) to HG(22)) can be selectively generated via the quasi-phase-matching (QPM) nonlinear process in a PPLN waveguide by tuning the wavelength of fundamental wave or the temperature of the waveguide. As well, it is demonstrated that HG mode can be transformed into Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) one via combination of HG modes which are simultaneously generated in a single PPLN waveguide with local-temperature-control technique. (C)2010 Optical Society of America