Guided-wave electro-optic beam deflector using domain reversal in LiTaO3

We have fabricated and demonstrated the operation of electro-optic beam deflectors using domain reversal in planar waveguides fabricated on LiTaO₃ substrates. The planar waveguides were made using proton exchange on z-cut substrates, and proton exchange with subsequent rapid thermal annealing was used to form the inverted domains. The deflection sensitivity of the device was measured to be about 6.7 mrad/kV. Calculations indicate that the deflection sensitivity should be increased by a factor of 25 to 30 with improvements in device geometry