Characterization of periodically poled LiTaO3 crystals by means of spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Abstract

We describe the observation of quasi-phase-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion in eee-geometry in periodically poled LiTaO3 crystals. For scattered light, the two-dimensional angular-frequency intensity distribution was studied. Several detuning curves were recorded, corresponding to high orders m=-2, -3, -4, -5 of quasi-phase matching. The measured periods of domain gratings agree with the data obtained by atomic-force microscopy for the etched crystal surfaces. The presence of both odd and even orders indicates that the lengths of positive and negative domains are unequal. To determine the mean duty cycle for regular domain gratings we propose comparing of the intensities of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in different orders of quasi-phase-matching.