Optical waveguide in stoichiometric lithium niobate formed by 500 keV proton implantation.

We report on the fabrication of planar waveguide in stoichiometric lithium niobate by 500 keV proton implantation with a dose of 1x10(17) ions/cm(2). The formation of n(e) enhancement planar waveguide in the crystal was disclosed by the dark mode spectra and the subsequent endface coupling measurement. The absorption spectra show that the postannealing treatments above 400 masculineC temperature can remove the color centers induced by implantation efficiently. The propagation loss and near-field profiles of the planar waveguide were obtained with an end-face coupling system.