Optimization of LiNbO3 photonic crystals: toward 3D LiNbO3 micro-components.

We report easy-to-implement techniques to improve the reflectivity of LiNbO3 photonic crystals within the photonic bandgap. Firstly, we show that widening the channel waveguides confines the optical modes in the vertical direction, which leads to the development of the first 2D-PhCs on Ti-indiffused LiNbO3 waveguides. We also report the first optical characterization of PhCs implemented on ridge LiNbO3 waveguides. The reflectivity is measured using a swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, together with the transmission spectrum. Finally we report 3D-PhCs LiNbO3 fabricated by Focused Ion Beam milling on the side of ridge waveguides.