1) What is the use of mode converters?

Explain the design using optical waveguides

2) Design an amplitude modulator using LiNbO3
4) Optical conversion wavelength using LINbO3 waveguide:

• LiNbO3 is a highly efficient and compact wavelength converter and has the potential for
straightforward integration with various photonic platforms, e.g., on-chip
microsystems such as optical communication networks, quantum storage, and optical
frequency referencing.
• Among all existing QPM wavelength converters, the periodically poled lithium niobate
(PPLN) waveguide is the most widely used because lithium niobate (LN) has a broad
transparent window (350 nm to 4.5 μm) and large nonlinear coefficients
• Optical waveguides on LN are commonly fabricated either with titanium (Ti) in-diffusion
or with proton exchange
• The LNOI wafer consists of a 700-nm-thick 𝑥-cut LN film and a 2-μm-thick
buried SiO2 layer on an LN substrate.
• 30-nm-thick Cr layer is in direct contact with the LN film, and a top 40-nm-thick Au layer
protects the Cr from oxidation.
 END SEM ANSWERS

3) (a) What is surface plasmons? Explain the design of plasmonic waveguides.

Plasomns:

A plasmon is a density wave in an electron gas.

• Analogous to sound wave.

• Exist in metals, where electrons are weakly bound and free to move

Surface plasmons are transverse, but they are mismatched to photons in their momentum. The two E(k)
curves only coincide at k=0. It is possible to provide the necessary momentum ħk by a grating

Design of plasmonic waveguides:

SPPs are of TM type, light guided within the dielectric region will suffer attenuation only in its TM mode,
while the TE mode remains essentially unaffected- for polarisation sensitive coherent systems.
3. (c) Explain the design of thermo-optic waveguide devices

4 (a) discuss the suitability of materials for the design of optical waveguides.

Photonic Materials for Optical waveguide:

➢ Semiconductor Waveguides: GaAs, InP, etc.

 ➢ Electro-Optic Waveguides: mostly LiNbO3

➢ Glass Waveguides: Silica (SiO2), SiON

❖ Silica-on-silicon technology

❖ Laser-written waveguides

➢ Silicon-on-Insulator Technology

➢ Polymers Waveguides: Several organic polymers

4(b) Draw the model of MCVD technique for fabrication of optical waveguides.