Photoinduced conversion of radiation polarization in integrated optics components based on LiNbO/sub 3/

Two photoinduced effects in LiNbO/sub 3/ optical waveguides (unidirectional waveguide mode conversion from ordinary to extraordinary polarization and radiation coupling out of waveguides with polarization plane rotation) are discussed. The circular photovoltaic tensor component in LiNbO/sub 3/ is determined experimentally, and a photovoltaic mechanism to explain photoinduced radiation coupling out of waveguides is proposed. The impact of the effects discovered on the performance of phase modulators is discussed.>