Abstract: The invention is an optical waveguide device and a method for forming the device which provides enhanced stability. The device includes a pyroelectric substrate such as lithium niobate where the bulk resistivity of at least a portion of the substrate is reduced to 1013 ohm cm or less by heating the substrate in a reducing atmosphere. This causes the substrate to be less susceptible to temperature variants which can otherwise result in dc bias drift and variation.

Abstract: Optical devices using non-centric crystals, such as lithium niobate, and methods for making and using the devices, are provided. The devices provide improved temperature stability as compared to conventional devices using non-centric crystals. The improved temperature stability is provided by etching the surface of a non-centric crystal to a depth of less than about 300 angstroms. The devices and methods of the invention reduce the magnitude of change in bias voltage required to maintain an optical crystal at a pre-selected operating point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and method for stabilizing the operation of lithium niobate devices such as modulators due to charge accumulation caused by, e.g., pyroelectric and piezoelectride effects. The apparatus comprises a substrate having a waveguide formed therein, a buffer layer formed on the substrate, a Si.sub.2 Ti.sub.x N.sub.8/3+x charge dissipation layer (CDL) formed on the buffer layer and a set of electrodes formed on the charge dissipation layer. According to embodiments of the invention, the Si.sub.2 Ti.sub.x N.sub.8/3+x charge dissipation layer has a resistivity of approximately 15-150 k.OMEGA.cm. Alternatively, the apparatus includes a second charge dissipation layer formed on the opposing surface of the substrate. The charge dissipation layer according to embodiments of the invention is advantageous in that it provides a suitable resistivity and is a composition that is easily reproducible using conventional formation techniques such as sputtering.