Iron-doped Lithium Niobate Crystals Research Articles

Optical fabrication of (2 + 1)-dimensional photorefractive photonic lattices by improved Billet split lens

A convenient way to optical fabricate (2 + 1)-dimensional photonic lattice microstructures was experimentally demonstrated in photorefractive crystal. An improved Billet split lens combined with a Fourier transform lens can generate large area interference of multiple plane waves. The (2 + 1)-dimensional square photonic lattice microstructures are optically induced in an iron doped lithium niobate crystal. Induced lattice microstructures are analyzed and validated using several different experimental methods. This method has good flexibility and scalability, stable equipment, and does not require complex adjustment systems. It can be used to optical fabricate more types of (2 + 1)-dimensional lattice microstructures by design and processing of improved Billet split lens reasonably.

Trifurcated Splitting of Water Droplets on Engineered Lithium Niobate Surfaces.

Controlled splitting of liquid droplets is a key function in many microfluidic applications. In recent years, various methodologies have been used to accomplish this task. Here, we present an optofluidic technique based on an engineered surface formed by coating a z-cut iron-doped lithium niobate crystal with a lubricant-infused layer, which provides a very slippery surface. Illuminating the crystal with a light spot induces surface charges of opposite signs on the two crystal faces because of the photovoltaic effect. If the light spot is sufficiently intense, millimetric water droplets placed near the illuminated spot split into two charged fragments, one fragment being trapped by the bright spot and the other moving away from it. The latter fragment does not move randomly but rather follows one of three well-defined trajectories separated by 120°, which reflect the anisotropic crystalline structure of Fe:LiNbO3. Numerical simulations explain the behavior of water droplets in the framework of the forces induced by the interplay of pyroelectric, piezoelectric, and photovoltaic effects, which originate simultaneously inside the illuminated crystal. Such a synergetic effect can provide a valuable feature in applications that require splitting and coalescence of droplets, such as chemical microreactors and biological encapsulation and screening.

Running streams of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal on a lithium niobate surface

ABSTRACTSessile droplets of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline material were exposed to surface electric fields produced by pyroelectric and photogalvanic (photovoltaic) effects in X-cut iron-doped lithium niobate crystals. The resulting dynamic processes were monitored by polarisation optical (video)microscopy (POM). During heating/cooling cycles, at first, the droplets change their shape from spherical to extended ellipsoidal. Then, they start to move rapidly along the surface electric field, i.e. along the crystal’s polar axis (c-axis). During this motion, several droplets merge into running streams (tendrils) extending towards the edges of the top surface area. Finally, practically all liquid crystalline material is transported from the top surface to the side surfaces of the crystal. At stabilised temperatures, laser illumination of the assembly causes dynamic processes that are localised to the illuminated area. Also, in this case, the LC droplets merge into several tendril-like formations that are preferentially oriented along the c-axis of the crystal. The pattern of tendrils fluctuates with time, but it persists as long as the illumination is present. In this case, the LC material is transported between the central and the edge regions of the illuminated area.

Light-induced dynamics of liquid-crystalline droplets on the surface of iron-doped lithium niobate crystals

We investigated the effect of a photovoltaic field generated on the surface of iron-doped lithium niobate crystals on sessile droplets of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline and a standard nematic liquid crystalline material present on this surface. When such an assembly is illuminated with a laser beam, a wide range of dynamic phenomena are initiated. Droplets located outside the laser spot are dragged in the direction of the illuminated area, while droplets located inside the illuminated region tend to bridge each other and rearrange into tendril-like structures. In the ferroelectric nematic phase (NF), these processes take place via the formation of conical spikes evolving into jet streams, similar to the behavior of droplets of conventional dielectric liquids exposed to overcritical electric fields. However, in contrast to traditional liquids, the jet streams of the NF phase exhibit profound branching. In the nematic phase (N) of both the ferroelectric nematic and the standard nematic material, dynamic processes occur via smooth-edged continuous features typical for conventional liquids subjected to under-critical fields. The difference in dynamic behavior is attributed to the large increase of dielectric permittivity in the ferroelectric nematic phase with respect to the dielectric permittivity of the nematic phase.

Determination of the Dielectrophoretic Force Induced by the Photovoltaic Effect on Lithium Niobate.

The actuation of droplets on a surface is extremely relevant for microfluidic applications. In recent years, various methodologies have been used. A promising solution relies on iron-doped lithium niobate crystals that, when illuminated, generate an evanescent electric field in the surrounding space due to the photovoltaic effect. This field can be successfully exploited to control the motion of water droplets. Here, we present an experimental method to determine the attractive force exerted by the evanescent field. It consists of the analysis of the elongation of a pendant droplet and its detachment from the suspending syringe needle, caused by the illumination of an iron-doped lithium niobate crystal. We show that this interaction resembles that obtained by applying a voltage between the needle and a metallic substrate, and a quantitative investigation of these two types of actuation yields similar results. Pendant droplet tensiometry is then demonstrated to offer a simple solution for quickly mapping out the force at different distances from the crystal, generated by the photovoltaic effect and its temporal evolution, providing important quantitative data for the design and characterization of optofluidic devices based on lithium niobate crystals.

Pyroelectric-controlled bending of a self-trapped optical beam in a photorefractive iron doped lithium niobate crystal

We present the experimental demonstration of a self-trapped optical beam bending in a photorefractive Fe-doped lithium niobate (LN:Fe) crystal controlled by the pyroelectric effect. Formation of self-trapped beams with typical [Formula: see text]50[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m diameter and large bending of [Formula: see text]140[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m are depicted in a 1[Formula: see text]cm length LN:Fe crystal for a laser beam at 632.8[Formula: see text]nm wavelength and 0.5[Formula: see text]mW power with a 30∘C crystal temperature change. The self-trapped beam bending is opposite to the crystal [Formula: see text]-axis. The underlying physics is elaborated and numerical simulations are performed. The long-living waveguiding channels with controlled curvilinear trajectories are promising for optical information routing.

Bulk piezo-photovoltaic effect in LiNbO3

The deformations arising in iron-doped lithium niobate crystals (LiNbO3:Fe) under laser illumination were registered by changes in the parameters of X-ray diffraction rocking curves. The piezoelectric deformation as a result of the bulk photovoltaic effect was separated from heating according to the different kinetics of these processes using a set of time-resolved X-ray diffraction techniques. The dependence of the peak shift on the diffraction order confirmed the manifestation of the bulk piezo-photovoltaic effect. Additionally, the measurements of an external electric field influence on the diffraction peaks parameters were carried out as well as the measurements of the electrophysical and bulk photovoltaic characteristics of the crystal.

Optical induction of two-dimensional photorefractive photonic microstructures using six wedge prisms array

We experimentally demonstrate a convenient method to fabricate two-dimensional photonic microstructures in photorefractive crystal. Three kinds of photonic microstructures have been fabricated in iron-doped lithium niobate crystal using six wedge prisms array. The experimental setup of our method does not require complicated optical alignment components. Induced two-dimensional triangular lattice photonic microstructures are analyzed and validated by plane wave guiding, far-field diffraction pattern imaging, Brillouin-zone spectroscopy, and angle-dependent transmission spectrum. The method can be easily extended to fabricate other complex photonic microstructures by designing different wedge prisms array and adjusting polarization and phase delay properly.

Optoelectronic generation of bio-aqueous femto-droplets based on the bulk photovoltaic effect.

The generation and manipulation of small aqueous droplets is an important issue for nano- and biotechnology, particularly, when using microfluidic devices. The production of very small droplets has been frequently carried out by applying intense local electric fields to the fluid, which requires power supplies and metallic electrodes. This procedure complicates the device and reduces its versatility. In this work, we present a novel and flexible, to the best of our knowledge, electrodeless optoelectronic method for the production of tiny droplets of biologically friendly aqueous fluids. Our method takes advantage of the photoinduced electric fields generated by the bulk photovoltaic effect in iron-doped lithium niobate crystals. Two substrate configurations, presenting the polar ferroelectric axis either parallel or perpendicular to the active surface, have been successfully tested. In both crystal geometries, small droplets on the femtoliter scale have been obtained, although with a different spatial distributions correlated with the symmetry of the photovoltaic fields. The overall results demonstrate the effectiveness of the optoelectronic method to produce femtoliter droplets, both with pure water and with aqueous solutions containing biological material.

Optical fabrication of large area photonic microstructures by spliced lens

We experimentally demonstrate a convenient approach to fabricate large area photorefractive photonic microstructures by a spliced lens device. Large area two-dimensional photonic microstructures are optically induced inside an iron-doped lithium niobate crystal. The experimental setups of our method are relatively compact and stable without complex alignment devices. It can be operated in almost any optical laboratories. We analyze the induced triangular lattice microstructures by plane wave guiding, far-field diffraction pattern imaging and Brillouin-zone spectroscopy. By designing the spliced lens appropriately, the method can be easily extended to fabricate other complex large area photonic microstructures, such as quasicrystal microstructures. Induced photonic microstructures can be fixed or erased and re-recorded in the photorefractive crystal.

Light-induced electric field generated by photovoltaic substrates investigated through liquid crystal reorientation

Liquid crystal reorientation is exploited to analyze the electric field generated by light irradiation in iron-doped lithium niobate crystals. The evaluation of the strength of this light-induced field is based on the measurement of the phase shift induced in a probe light beam by a liquid crystal cell built with two z-cut iron-doped lithium niobate crystals as substrates. Then, the field profile has been determined starting from a Gaussian-like surface charge density following the model described in the text. The director profile corresponding to the modelled electric field is in good agreement with the director reorientation evaluated experimentally by means of the light-induced phase shift. This investigation gives a new approach to study the effects based on the photovoltaic response of lithium niobate crystals. Moreover, the characterization of the electric field optically generated inside the LC layer is highly desirable in view of the realization of new all-optical devices to be integrated in optofluidic platforms.

Light induced DEP for immobilizing and orienting Escherichia coli bacteria

Manipulating bacteria and understanding their behavior when interacting with different substrates are of fundamental importance for patterning, detection, and any other topics related to health-care, food-enterprise, etc. Here, we adopt an innovative dielectrophoretic (DEP) approach based on electrode-free DEP for investigating smart but simple strategies for immobilization and orientation of bacteria. Escherichia coli DH5-alpha strain has been selected as subject of the study. The light induced DEP is achieved through ferroelectric iron-doped lithium niobate crystals used as substrates. Due to the photorefractive (PR) property of such material, suitable light patterns allow writing spatial-charges-distribution inside its volume and the resultant electric fields are able to immobilize E. coli on the surface. The experiments showed that, after laser irradiation, about 80% of bacteria is blocked and oriented along a particular direction on the crystals within an area of few square centimeters. The investigation presented here could open the way for detection or patterning applications based on a new driving mechanism. Future perspectives also include the possibility to actively switch by light the DEP forces, through the writing/erasing characteristic of PR fields, to dynamically control biofilm spatial structure and arrangement.

Specially shaped negative lens produced in a lithium niobate crystal

The photorefractivity of iron-doped lithium niobate crystal is utilized for creating a negative lens-like structure. The refractive index inhomogeneity acting as a lens is formed due to illumination of the crystal by an optical field with Gaussian spatial distribution of intensity modified by a proper cylindrical lens. Blue line (488 nm) of an argon ion laser is used as a source of light for inducing the inhomogeneity within the crystal. Imaging properties of the photorefractive inhomogeneity are discussed in terms of wave and ray optics approaches and they are practically demonstrated by means of coherent light coming from a He–Ne laser (633 nm). Finally, the focal lengths of the “lens” are calculated using both the lens equation and the formula resulting from analysis of the phase curvature of the wave of light, which passed through the refractive index inhomogeneity.

Optical properties of iron-doped lithium niobate crystal depending on iron content and temperature

The optical properties of LiNbO3 crystals doped with iron at mol% between 0.015 and 0.1 were studied by optical absorption and Raman spectroscopies. The long wavelength tail below the fundamental absorption band is modeled by Urbach exponent assumed to be due to the tunneling of charged carriers through potential energy barrier bent by micro-electric field. We presume that non-uniform local charge distribution creates micro-electric field. Temperature dependence of the Fe2+ absorption band is reported over the range from 100 to 250 K. The Fe2+ absorption band at around 2.58 eV is red shifted at a rate of 4 × 10−5 eV K−1 as the temperature increases. We conclude that Li deficiency increases with iron, which sit on Li sites.

Optically induced three-dimensional Penrose-type photonic quasicrystal lattices in iron-doped lithium niobate crystal

Three-dimensional Penrose-type photonic quasicrystal lattices are optically induced inside an iron-doped lithium niobate photorefractive crystal for the first time using a single multi-pinhole plate. The setup of this method is simple and compact dispense with complex optical adjustment system. Induced Penrose-type photonic quasicrystal lattices are analyzed and verified by plane wave guiding and far field diffraction pattern imaging. The quasicrystal microstructures can be maintained for a long time inside the crystal in a dark room. Other more complex three-dimensional photonic quasicrystal structures can be fabricated with this method by designing the multi-pinhole plate flexibly.

Fabrication of two-dimensional elliptic photonic lattices in photorefractive crystal by optical induction method

We fabricate two-dimensional elliptic photonic lattices in iron-doped lithium niobate photorefractive crystal for the first time with optical induction method. The experimental setup of our method is very simple and flexible without complicated optical adjustment system. We analyze and verify the two-dimensional elliptic photonic lattices by plane wave guiding, far field diffraction pattern imaging, and Brillouin-zone spectroscopy. Induced elliptic photonic lattices can stably exist for a long time in the iron-doped lithium niobate crystal. The induced two-dimensional elliptic photonic lattices might offer an easy method to study generic band gap phenomena in anisotropic periodic structures.

Direct Laser Writing: Versatile Tool for Microfabrication of Lithium Niobate

We demonstrate versatility of femtosecond direct laser writing (DLW) technique for microstructuring of iron-doped and as-grown lithium niobate crystals. Formation of extended, metastable, and re-writable refractive index modulation structures is achievable via fast local photorefractive modification of refractive index at the focus of the writing laser beam, with a modulation of up to ∆n ~ 10 -3 , without permanent structural damage to the host crystal. Non-destructive photomodification allows total or partial erasure or modification of the previously recorded structures. This capability may enable realization of optically reconfigurable diffractive optical elements in the same volume of lithium niobate crystal. Flexibility of the DLW technique can be exploited for threedimensional microstructuring of periodic and aperiodic patterns with controllable index modulation profiles.

Optically induced two-dimensional photonic quasicrystal lattices in iron-doped lithium niobate crystal with an amplitude mask

We fabricate two-dimensional photonic quasicrystal lattices in iron-doped lithium niobate photorefractive crystal by a single amplitude mask. The experimental setup of this method is very simple and flexible without complicated optical adjustment system. It can be applied in almost any optical laboratories. We analyze the photonic quasicrystal lattices by plane wave guiding, Brillouin-zone spectroscopy and far field diffraction pattern imaging. The induced photonic quasicrystal lattices can exist stably for a long time in the photorefractive crystal. This method can be easily extended to generate more complex quasi-periodicity microstructures by designing the amplitude mask properly.

Diffusion of iron in lithium niobate: a secondary ion mass spectrometry study

Iron-doped X-cut lithium niobate crystals were prepared by means of thermal diffusion from thin film varying in a systematic way the process parameters such as temperature and diffusion duration. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry was exploited to characterize the iron in-depth profiles. The evolution of the composition of the Fe thin film in the range between 600°C and 800°C was studied, and the diffusion coefficient at different temperatures in the range between 900°C and 1050°C and the activation energy of the diffusion process were estimated.

Lithium niobate crystals doped with iron by thermal diffusion: Relation between lattice deformation and reduction degree

We report, to our knowledge for the first time, on the experimental observation that the maximum lattice deformation induced at the surface of iron doped lithium niobate crystal by thermal diffusion depends on both the Fe concentration and the reduction degree of the doped layer itself. By exploiting a simple linear model, we suggest a description of this experimental evidence and we point out a procedure that allows the characterization of the in-depth profile of the [Fe2+]/[Fe3+] ratio.