Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) wafer phase gatings were fabricated by excime
r pulsed ablation through a transmission silica phase mask grating. Su
rface morphology of the LiNbO3 phase gratings was studied using an ato
mic force microscope as well as an optical microscope. Crystal structu
res and the diffraction patterns of the gratings were characterized by
X-ray diffraction and using a He-Ne laser beam, respectively.