Modeling and experimental observation of parametric processes in segmented KTiOPO4 channel waveguides

This letter presents a modeling technique for quasiphase-matched parametric processes in segmented channel waveguides and the results of measurements of infrared parametric fluorescence in segmented KTiOPO4 channel waveguides. We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally a strong dependence of optical parametric oscillator tuning curves and parametric conversion efficiency (parametric gain) on the segmentation duty cycle. We show that the optimum conversion efficiency for parametric interactions in segmented waveguides is obtained for duty cycles greater than 50%. Our results validate the use of an effective continuous waveguide model for segmented channel waveguide calculations over a wide range of wavelengths and duty cycles. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02812-0]