Abstract:
Abstract: We report on lithium niobate intermediate-thin films with reduced energy-manufacturing
costs for manufacturing low-loss electro-optic components. A micrometer-thick membrane
surrounded with tapers is inscribed in a single step by smoothly dicing the bottom face of a standard
LiNbO3 electro-optic modulator. Hence, we demonstrate a freestanding polarisation-state
modulator with insertion losses as low as 2.6 dB. The in-situ structuring of the membrane allows
a giant phase control extending over 40°. These developments open the way to a new generation
of membrane-based electro-optic devices with low manufacturing-energy costs and reduced yield
losses for sensing, telecommunications, or quantum photonics applications.
