FORMATION AND ANISOTROPIC PROPERTIES OF ION-EXCHANGED KTIOPO4 CRYSTALWAVE-GUIDES

Z-cut KTP crystal waveguides have been fabricated in Ba(NO3)(2)/RbNO3 bath using ion-exchange process. The effective mode indexes for the TE and TM polarizations are measured by the prism coupling method at the wavelengths of 488, 501.7, 514.5, 532, 632.8 and 1064 nm respectively . The refractive index profiles are then determined by the inverse WKB method, which are shown to be accurately modelled by the complementar y error function. Surface refractive index increments are computed and shown to be anisotropic. The diffusion coefficient of Rb+ in KTP is d etermined and the formation mechanisms of the waveguide are discussed.