Optical wavelength converting device and process for producing the same

1. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask.

2. A solid laser, comprising the optical wavelength converting device as defined in claim 1 , the solid laser being constituted to convert a produced laser beam into its second harmonic and to radiate out the second harmonic.

3. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming an electrode material layer on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance,

ii) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the electrode material layer, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

iii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iv) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

v) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

vi) etching the electrode material layer by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as an etching mask, such that portions of the electrode material layer at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask are removed by the etching, whereby the periodic electrode is formed.

4. A solid laser, comprising the optical wavelength converting device as defined in claim 3 , the solid laser being constituted to convert a produced laser beam into its second harmonic and to radiate out the second harmonic.

5. An optical wavelength converting device, having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal,

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm.

6. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted to radiate out a wavelength-converted wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm.

7. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal;

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted such that, when a fundamental wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 640 nm to 940 nm impinges upon the optical wavelength converting device, the optical wavelength converting device radiates out a second harmonic having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm with the period of the domain inversion regions acting as a first-order period for pseudo-phase matching.

8. A solid laser, comprising an optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal, the solid laser being constituted to convert a produced laser beam into its second harmonic and to radiate out the second harmonic; and

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm.

9. A solid laser, comprising an optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises comprising a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal, the solid laser being constituted to convert a produced laser beam into its second harmonic and to radiate out the second harmonic; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted to radiate out a wavelength-converted wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm.

10. A solid laser, comprising an optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

ii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iii) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

iv) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

v) forming the periodic electrode on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as a mask, the periodic electrode being formed at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal, the solid laser being constituted to convert a produced laser beam into its second harmonic and to radiate out the second harmonic;

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted such that, when a fundamental wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 640 nm to 940 nm impinges upon the optical wavelength converting device, the optical wavelength converting device radiates out the second harmonic having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm with the period of the domain inversion regions acting as a first-order period for pseudo-phase matching.

11. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming an electrode material layer on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance,

ii) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the electrode material layer, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

iii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iv) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

v) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

vi) etching the electrode material layer by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as an etching mask, such that portions of the electrode material layer at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask are removed by the etching, whereby the periodic electrode is formed;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal; and

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm.

12. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming an electrode material layer on the one surface of the ferroelectric substance,

ii) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the electrode material layer, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

iii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iv) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

v) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

vi) etching the electrode material layer by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as an etching mask, such that portions of the electrode material layer at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask are removed by the etching, whereby the periodic electrode is formed;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted to radiate out a wavelength-converted wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm

13. An optical wavelength converting device having a periodic domain inversion structure, in which a periodic electrode is formed on one surface of a single-polarized ferroelectric substance having nonlinear optical effects, and an electric field is applied across the ferroelectric substance by the utilization of the periodic electrode in order to set regions of the ferroelectric substance, which stand facing the periodic electrode, as local area limited domain inversion regions, the optical wavelength converting device produced by a process comprising the steps of:

i) forming an electrode material layer on the one surface of the ferro electric substance,

ii) forming a first resist layer and a second resist layer in this order on the electrode material layer, the first resist layer being removable by etching, the second resist layer being photosensitive and having properties such that, when light is irradiated to the second resist layer, only exposed areas of the second resist layer or only unexposed areas of the second resist layer become soluble in a developing solvent,

iii) exposing the second resist layer to near-field light in a periodic pattern with means, which receives exposure light and produces the near-field light in the periodic pattern,

iv) developing the second resist layer, which has been exposed to the near-field light, to form a periodic pattern in the second resist layer,

v) etching the first resist layer by utilizing the periodic pattern of the second resist layer as an etching mask to form a periodic pattern composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, and

vi) etching the electrode material layer by utilizing the periodic pattern, which is composed of the first resist layer and the second resist layer, as an etching mask, such that portions of the electrode material layer at positions corresponding to opening areas of the mask are removed by the etching, whereby the periodic electrode is formed;

wherein the optical wavelength converting device comprises a crystal of a Z-cut plate of LiNbO 3 doped with MgO, domain inversion regions being formed periodically in a bulk form in the crystal;

wherein the domain inversion regions are formed with a period falling within the range of 1.0 μm to 4.6 μm; and

wherein the optical wavelength converting device is constituted such that, when a fundamental wave having a wavelength falling within the range of 640 nm to 940 nm impinges upon the optical wavelength converting device, the optical wavelength converting device radiates out a second harmonic having a wavelength falling within the range of 320 nm to 470 nm with the period of the domain inversion regions acting as a first-order period for pseudo-phase matching.