Y junctions arising from dark-soliton propagation in photovoltaic media

Abstract

We report the observation of planar Y-junction waveguide splitters that are due to the bulk photovoltaic effect. The junctions are generated by multiple dark-soliton propagation in LiNbO(3) by use of low power levels (20 mW) and average intensities of 10 W/cm(2) at 488 nm. The junctions persist in the dark and can be used to divide input beams of less photorefractive sensitivity. We describe some possibilities for generating other waveguide structures in bulk and thin-film media.