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Optics Express

Short-length and robust polarization rotators in periodically poled lithium niobate via shortcuts to adiabaticity

Xi Chen, Hongwei Wang, Yue Ban, Shuo‐Yen Tseng

Published Sep 25, 2014• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Conventional narrowband spectrum polarization devices are short but not robust, based on quasi-phase matching (QPM) technique, in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. In this paper, we propose short-length and robust polarization rotators by using shortcuts to adiabaticity. Beyond the QPM condition, the electric field and period of PPLN crystal are designed in terms of invariant dynamics, and further optimized with respect to input wavelength/refractive index variations. In addition, the stability of conversion efficiency on the electric field and period of PPLN crystal is also discussed. As a consequence, the optimal shortcuts are fast as well as robust, which provide broadband spectrum polarization devices with short length.

DOI
10.1364/oe.22.024169

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Conventional narrowband spectrum polarization devices are short but not robust, based on quasi-phase matching (QPM) technique, in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. In this paper, we propose short-length and robust polarization rotators by using shortcuts to adiabaticity. Beyond the QPM condition, the electric field and period of PPLN crystal are designed in terms of invariant dynamics, and further optimized with respect to input wavelength/refractive index variations. In addition, the stability of conversion efficiency on the electric field and period of PPLN crystal is also discussed. As a consequence, the optimal shortcuts are fast as well as robust, which provide broadband spectrum polarization devices with short length.
The wavelength management method was theoretically investigated for the polarization-entangled twin photons in telecommunication band generated by type-II quasi-phase-matched (QPM) spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystals. The wavelength of single-color twin photons from degenerate SPDC can be controlled freely through adjusting the QPM grating period or the working temperature. Especially, adjusting the temperature is more convenient since the QPM grating period is hardly changed once the PPLN structure is fabricated. For the two-color twin photons created by nondegenerate SPDC, strict wavelength exchange of the o-polarization and the e-polarization photons can be realized easily only by tuning the working temperature without pump or structure change.
A titanium-diffused periodically poled lithium niobite (Ti:PPLN) waveguide device with ultra-short poling periods is developed for strongly nondegenerate quantum frequency conversion (QFC) from 369.5nm to 1550nm with a 485nm pump. A practical quantum information network requires a quantum state transfer link between disparate frequencies corresponding to atomic quantum memories and the telecommunication fiber network spectral window. QFC occurs in a nonlinear parametric amplifier. A Ti:PPLN diffused waveguide implementation allows for concentration of mode fields along the full interaction length of the nonlinear crystal. It also allows for engineering of an arbitrary desired nonlinear interaction based on poling parameters through quasi phase matching (QPM). Despite the relative maturity of PPLN technology, the target interaction is quasi phase matched at a period of 2.053μm which represents a significant technical challenge. The periodic poling process requires localization of strong electric fields on the order of 20kV/mm onto stripes which are on the order of 1μm. Thus, nickel- chromium (NiCr) electrodes are used to localize domain nucleation and enhance domain inversion quality by a factor of 200 compared to traditional periodic poling techniques. Devices are fabricated by diffusing Ti stripes into the crystal substrate, then sputtering and wet etching a NiCr layer to form the electrodes. High voltage is applied in an electrolyte bath using a Trek 20/20C high voltage amplifier with a custom high-speed controller utilizing an ARM processor core, FPGA, and A/D converter. Poled devices are then stripped of electrodes and their end faces are polished for optical measurement.
An incomplete period of the last quasi-phase-matching (QPM) segment in a periodically poled nonlinear crystal represents a key problem in implementing a nonlinear wavelength-conversion device with round-trip or oscillating waves of interaction. Such a segment at the crystal end implies broken QPM periodicity for the reflected waves of interaction. We demonstrate numerically that with a grating structure at the crystal end for the reflecting signal the wavelength-dependent phase shift at Bragg reflection can compensate for the phase mismatch of the reflected signal, idler, and pump of an optical parametric process. Therefore, by slightly shifting the signal wavelength we can maintain the phase-matching condition with any length of the last QPM segment. It is shown that with a grating structure the conversion efficiency of the round-trip optical parametric process can always be optimized.
Optical parametric amplification (OPA) of arbitrarily polarized light is proposed in a multi-section periodically poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN). External electric field is applied on selected sections to induce the polarization rotation of involved lights, thus the quasi-phase matched optical parametric processes exhibit polarization insensitivity under suitable voltage. In addition to the amplified signal wave, an idler wave with the same polarization is generated simultaneously. As an example, a ~10 times OPA showing polarization independency is simulated. Applications of this technology are also discussed.
The quantum nature of light at the single photon level allows for unique applications that classical physics neither predicts nor describes. Most notably, appropriate conditions may cause the states of photons with indistinguishable properties to become entangled, enabling novel approaches to quantum computation, secure communications, and metrology. \n \nAny operational quantum information network transporting entangled-photon states must establish a high-fidelity link between its distant nodes despite the inherent fragility of entangled states. However, the lack of a universal operating wavelength for all optical devices makes this a substantial challenge. Telecommunication fibers, entangled photon pair sources, quantum optical memories, and quantum repeaters all function in disparate spectral windows dictated by the properties of the materials used to fabricate them. Quantum frequency conversion (QFC), the single-photon limit of nonlinear parametric sum and difference frequency generation in optics, offers a bridge between spectral regions with full preservation of quantum state character, including entanglement. \n \nPeriodically poled optical waveguides in ferroelectric crystals are versatile tools in nonlinear optics. Confining the nonlinear interaction to a waveguide greatly enhances its efficiency compared to bulk optics. Periodic poling, the process of periodically inverting the domains of a ferroelectric medium using a strong electric field, enables a variety of quasi-phase matching configurations to engineer a desired nonlinear interaction. \n \nThis work concentrates on the design, development, fabrication, and characterization of a titanium-diffused periodically poled lithium niobate (Ti:PPLN) waveguide device. This device is designed to execute single-step quantum frequency conversion from 369.5nm to 1550nm in order to facilitate a quantum state transfer between standard fiber telecommunication wavelengths and an atomic quantum memory system employing trapped ytterbium ions. \n \nThe creation of phase matching conditions for such an extreme distance in frequency demands precise control of high magnitude electric fields on the single-micron scale. As the first demonstration of its kind in Ti:PPLN, the development of these devices included novel improvements to existing fabrication methods, improving the state-of-the-art of precision, quality, and yield for poling of ferroelectric crystals.