Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) thin films for optical waveguide purpose have been grown on (0001) sapphire substrates using the pulsed laser deposition technique at the wavelength of 355 nm. To improve surface smoothness of the films, an off-axis deposition geometry with substrates parallel to the plasma plume has been used. Optical properties have been studied based on excitation of guided modes in the film with a prism coupler. M-lines observations associated to extraction of guided light in the films have shown that planar LiNbO3 optical waveguide have been elaborated. The
propagation losses at 633 nm have been estimated by measurement of light streak intensity along the propagation direction with a CCD camera. Values of 4.8 and 5.8 dB cm-1 have been attained for TM0 and TE0 guided modes, respectively. The light scattering is mainly due to the presence of residual droplets on the film surface.
Pulsed laser deposition of Lithium Niobate thin films onto sapphire (0001) substrates is reported. Thin films
composition and structure have been determined using Rutherford Backscattermg Spectroscopy (RBS) and X-ray diffraction
( XRD) experiments. The influe:nce of deposition parameters such as substrate temperature, oxygen pressure and target to
substrate distance on the composition and the structure of the films has been studied. Deposition temperature is found to be
an important parameter which enables us to grow LiNbO3 films without the Li deficient phase LiNb3O8. Nearly
stoichiometric thin fihns have been obtained for an oxygen pressure of 0. 1 Ton and a substrate temperature of 800°C.
Under optimized conditions the (001) preferential orientation of growth, suitable for most optical applications, has been
obtained.
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