Domain growth driven by a femtosecond laser in lithium niobate crystal

We experimentally demonstrate to drive domain growth in lithium niobate crystal by using a focused infrared femtosecond laser without relative displacement or any additional treatment. The physical process has four stages: modified domain generation; thermoelectric field formation; domain inversion; and domain growth. The length of domain growth depends on drive energy (pulse energy) and drive time (number of pulses), up to 155 µm. We use this approach to rapidly fabricate two-dimensional period-inverted domain structures and perform frequency-doubling conversion based on quasi-phase-matching. Laser-driven domain growth delivers an efficient manufacturing route for tailored functional materials.