Epitaxial Niobate Thin Films and Their Nonlinear Optical Properties

Abstract

AbstractFerroelectric oxide thin films show considerable potential as electro-optic and non-linear optical materials. Of particular interest are the niobates such as strontium barium niobate and potassium niobate. The growth of these epitaxial oxide films by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) has been investigated. This technique has yielded epitaxial thin films with excellent non-linear optical properties. Issues concerning the epitaxy of these thin films and its relationship to their optical and nonlinear optical properties are discussed.