Recent advances in poled lithium niobate

Abstract

Lithium niobate is a versatile material for both classical and quantum photonics, recognized for its outstanding electro-optic and nonlinear optical properties. Through a process known as poling, periodic ferroelectric crystal domains can be engineered to enable quasi-phase-matched frequency conversion, efficient modulation, and the generation of quantum light sources. The emergence of lithium niobate on insulator technology has further enhanced its suitability for scalable integrated photonics, offering ultra-low optical losses and strong light confinement while retaining the material's inherent advantages. Here, the techniques used to fabricate and characterize periodically poled lithium niobate are reviewed. Key developments are discussed, offering insights into the future of domain engineering of lithium niobate.