Asymmetrical 1st reflection trend owing to metallization difference at ± Z-faces in indium tin oxide coated Fe-doped lithium niobate

The charges accumulated at the interface of indium tin oxide (ITO) and iron doped lithium niobate (LN) in an extremely thin layer because of semiconductor band alignment were analyzed with ab initio theory. The formation of 2D electron gas makes the interface metallic and the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) possible. In experiments, diametrically opposite trends of the very first reflection (VFR) on the ± Z-faces of ITO coated Fe-LN slabs were observed and associated with the differences in metallization and the photovoltaic charge accumulation there. Microscopically, the electric environments of the two ITO/LN interfaces differ greatly owing to spontaneous polarization and photovoltaic fields, which alter the band structures and band alignment, resulting in phase gratings with a π-shift difference recorded at the two interfaces. This affects the opposite energy coupling between the SPPs and laser beams and results in the dramatically opposite trends of VFR.