CHARACTERIZATION OF ER3-DOPED TI-LINBO3 WAVE-GUIDES - LOSSES, ABSORPTION-SPECTRA, AND NEAR-FIELD MEASUREMENTS()

We present the experimental results of the characterization of Er3+-do ped Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides using nondestructive methods. We report resul ts concerning losses and near field and absorption measurements. Waveg uide losses are measured in the 1550 nm wavelength region through an i nterferometric method based on two different techniques: thermal cavit y tuning and wavelength sweeping. Homogeneous absorption and emission cross sections are calculated from the transmitted spectrum. The near field measurements are used to obtain the waveguide mode profile throu gh a deconvolution algorithm to correct the probe effect. The resultin g field profile enabled us to reconstruct the refractive index distrib ution. (C) 1996 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.