article published Nina Amelie Lange author 568430000-0001-6624-7098 René Pollmann author 78890 Michael Rüsing author 225010000-0003-4682-4577 Michael Stefszky author 42777 Maximilian Protte author 46170 Raimund Ricken author Laura Padberg author 40300 Christof Eigner author 13244https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5693-3083 Tim Bartley author Christine Silberhorn author 26263 <jats:p>Lithium niobate sees widespread use in nonlinear and quantum optical devices, such as for sum- and difference-frequency generation or spontaneous parametric downconversion. In lithium niobate waveguides, nonlinear optical processes are often limited by the so-called photorefractive effect, which limits the maximum input or output powers and impacts the nonlinear spectral response. Therefore, strategies for the management of photorefractive damage are a key consideration in device design. Usually, the photorefractive damage threshold, i.e., the maximal permissible operating power, can be increased by high-temperature operation of devices. This approach, however, is not applicable in cryogenic environments, which may be required for specialized applications. To better understand the impact of photorefraction in nonlinear optical applications, we study the impact of photorefraction on the phase-matching spectra of two nonlinear-optical sum-frequency generation experiments at (1) high temperatures and (2) cryogenic temperatures. Furthermore, we present an approach to reduce the impact of photorefraction, which is compatible with cryogenic operation. This comprises an auxiliary light source, propagating in the same waveguide, which is used to restore phase-matching spectra impacted by photorefraction, as well as reduce pyroelectric effects. Our work provides an alternative route to photorefraction management applicable to cryogenic environments, as well as in situations with tight energy budgets, such as space applications.</jats:p> AIP Publishing2026 eng 0021-8979 1089-755010.1063/5.0324002 13913 Lange NA, Pollmann R, Rüsing M, et al. Photorefraction management in lithium niobate waveguides: High-temperature vs cryogenic solutions. <i>Journal of Applied Physics</i>. 2026;139(13). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">10.1063/5.0324002</a> @article{Lange_Pollmann_Rüsing_Stefszky_Protte_Ricken_Padberg_Eigner_Bartley_Silberhorn_2026, title={Photorefraction management in lithium niobate waveguides: High-temperature vs cryogenic solutions}, volume={139}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">10.1063/5.0324002</a>}, number={13133105}, journal={Journal of Applied Physics}, publisher={AIP Publishing}, author={Lange, Nina Amelie and Pollmann, René and Rüsing, Michael and Stefszky, Michael and Protte, Maximilian and Ricken, Raimund and Padberg, Laura and Eigner, Christof and Bartley, Tim and Silberhorn, Christine}, year={2026} } Lange, Nina Amelie, et al. “Photorefraction Management in Lithium Niobate Waveguides: High-Temperature vs Cryogenic Solutions.” <i>Journal of Applied Physics</i>, vol. 139, no. 13, 133105, AIP Publishing, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">10.1063/5.0324002</a>. Lange, Nina Amelie, René Pollmann, Michael Rüsing, Michael Stefszky, Maximilian Protte, Raimund Ricken, Laura Padberg, Christof Eigner, Tim Bartley, and Christine Silberhorn. “Photorefraction Management in Lithium Niobate Waveguides: High-Temperature vs Cryogenic Solutions.” <i>Journal of Applied Physics</i> 139, no. 13 (2026). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002</a>. N.A. Lange, R. Pollmann, M. Rüsing, M. Stefszky, M. Protte, R. Ricken, L. Padberg, C. Eigner, T. Bartley, C. Silberhorn, Journal of Applied Physics 139 (2026). Lange, N. A., Pollmann, R., Rüsing, M., Stefszky, M., Protte, M., Ricken, R., Padberg, L., Eigner, C., Bartley, T., &#38; Silberhorn, C. (2026). Photorefraction management in lithium niobate waveguides: High-temperature vs cryogenic solutions. <i>Journal of Applied Physics</i>, <i>139</i>(13), Article 133105. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002</a> N. A. Lange <i>et al.</i>, “Photorefraction management in lithium niobate waveguides: High-temperature vs cryogenic solutions,” <i>Journal of Applied Physics</i>, vol. 139, no. 13, Art. no. 133105, 2026, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0324002">10.1063/5.0324002</a>. 653592026-04-07T08:41:07Z2026-09-02T12:06:14Z