Optical surface wave mode converters and modulators utilizing static strain-optic effects

Periodic perturbations of dielectric waveguides can be obtained by an evaporated SiO
2
thin film grating through the static strain-optic effect. These waveguides are applied to TE-TM mode converters and modulators in Ti-diffused LiNbO
3
waveguides. Using a coupling length of 3 mm in an optical surface waveguide, we have demonstrated a TE-TM mode conversion efficiency of 80 percent and a TE-TM mode modulator with 100 percent modulation with an applied field of 2 V/μm. A theoretical analysis of a reflector for a semiconductor laser waveguide is also described.