Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Chad Staus

Leon McCaughan

Thomas Francis Kuech

Aref Chowdhury

Dovas A Saulys

Vladimir A Joshkin

A radiation source or detector including a nested waveguide structure is provided. A smaller waveguide provides wave guiding for radiation of shorter wavelength. The smaller waveguide is embedded within a larger waveguide that provides wave guiding for radiation of longer wavelength. Wavelength conversion between the shorter wavelength and the longer wavelength can be realized through a nonlinear process.

Nested waveguides

A THz radiation source comprising a dual waveguide heterostructure is provided. The dual waveguide heterostructure includes an optical waveguide contained within a larger THz waveguide layered structure. The radiation source provides a coherent guided wave of THz radiation which is generated via difference frequency mixing in a gain medium with a large second-order nonlinearity and propagated with low THz loss by a dielectric medium in the layered waveguide structure. The THz radiation source is compact, has a high power output, and may be operated in continuous-wave (CW) mode at room temperature.

Coherent terahertz radiation source

Machining of crystalline lithium niobate is carried out utilizing a laser having a beam with a wavelength near the absorption edge of lithium niobate. The laser beam is provided in pulses of short duration and at a repetition rate selected to ablate the surface of the lithium niobate without damaging the bulk material. Translation of the laser beam and the substrate with respect to each other can be carried out to define a trench of a desired geometry in the lithium niobate.

Machining of lithium niobate by laser ablation

Electro-optic elements are formed in metal oxide films, such as lithium niobate, on a substrate such as lithium niobate for utilization in electro-optical devices. The electro-optic elements include trenches in the lithium niobate selected to improve the performance of the device. Traveling wave modulators may be formed with a waveguide having first and second arms, electrodes over the lithium niobate layer, and trenches formed in the layer to focus the electric field in the waveguide, resulting in improved modulator performance.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Chad Staus