OPTICAL ANALYSIS OF DAMAGE PROFILES IN ION-IMPLANTED LINBO3

The measurement of optical waveguide modes is a sensitive tool for the assessment of radiation damage in optical materials. Refractive index profiles can be computed from the waveguide mode data. Unexpected features, such as differences in the index profiles of n(o) and n(e) for LiNbO3, are discussed in terms of lattice relaxation, defect production, ion migration and variations in the local stoichiometry. Examples of anomalous features are the production in n(e) of high-index regions on either side of the reduced index nuclear damage peak. These effects are thought to result from ion diffusion towards the amorphised zone.