The properties of metastable phases in proton exchanged optical waveguides
in LiTaO3 were investigated. The temperature ranges of the transition from
equilibrium at room temperature to metastable beta -HxLi1-xTaO3 phase is de
termined as a function of hydrogen content. The relaxation of refractive in
dex in meta-alpha -HxLi1-xTaO3 phase is traced. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B
.V. All rights reserved.