INRAD Lithium Niobate
Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Chemical Formula
LiNbO3
congruently melting1
Crystal Symmetry and Class
trigonal, R3c
Point Group
3m
Lattice Constants2
a = 5.15052(6)
c = 13.86496(3)
Density2
4.648(5) g/cm3
Moh's Hardness
Fracture Toughness3
x-face
y-face
5
c-face
1.07 MPam1/2
1.17 MPam1/2
0.67 MPam1/2
Elastic Compliance4 at Constant Polarization (SP) and at Constant Field (SE) and Temperature
Dependence5
( TPa)-1
SP11= 4.76
SP12= -0.50
SP13= -1.20
SP14= 1.02
SP33= 4.19
SP44= 9.3
SP66= 10.5
( TPa)-1
SE11= 5.78
SE12= - 1.01
SE13= -1.47
SE14= -1.02
SE33= 5.02
SE44= 17.0
SE66= 13.6
(10-4/K)
(1/SE11)dSE11/dT=1.66
(1/SE12)dSE12/dT=0.28
(1/SE13)dSE13/dT=1.94
(1/SE14)dSE14/dT=1.33
(1/SE22)dSE22/dT=1.60
(1/SE44)dSE44/dT=2.05
(1/SE66)dSE66/dT=1.43
Stiffness4 at Constant Polarization (CP) and at Constant Field (CE) and Temperature Dependence5
(GPa)
CP11= 219
CP12= 37
CP13= 76
CP14= -15
CP22= 252
CP44= 95
CP66= 91
(GPa)
CE11= 203
CE12= 53
CE13= 75
CE14= 9
CE22= 245
CE44= 60
CE66= 75
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(10-4/K)
(1/CE11)dCE11/dT=-1.74
(1/CE12)dCE12/dT=-2.52
(1/CE13)dCE13/dT=-1.59
(1/CE14)dCE14/dT=-2.14
(1/CE22)dCE22/dT=-1.53
(1/CE44)dCE44/dT=-2.04
(1/CE66)dCE66/dT=-1.43
INRAD Lithium Niobate
OPTICAL AND ELECTRO-OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Optical Symmetry
uniaxial negative
Optical Transmission
0.400 m - 5.0 m
Sellmeier Equation Constants13
n =( A +B/(2+C)+D2)1/2 ; in microns
no A=4.9048 B=0.11768
C= -0.0475
D= -0.027169
ne A=4.582
B=0.099169
C=-0.044432 D= -0.02195
Calculated Refractive Index Values13
no( 1.064 m) = 2.2322 ; ne( 1.064 m) = 2.1560
no( 2.060 m) = 2.1949 ; ne( 2.060 m) = 2.1243
no( 3.500 m) = 2.1405 ; ne( 3.500 m) = 2.0788
Photoelastic Strain Coefficients at Constant Field11
11 = -0.026
31 = 0.17
12 = 0.08
33 = 0.07
13 = 0.13
41 = -0.151
14 = -0.08
44 = 0.146
Temperature Variation of Refractive Index13 for = 1.0 m 4.0 m
dno/dT = 3.3 x 10-6 /C
dne/dT = 37 x 10-6 /C
Nonlinear d Coefficients12,20
d22 = 2.4 pm/V
d31 = -4.52 pm/V
d33 = 31.5 pm/V
Effective Nonlinear Optical Coefficient
deff = d31 sin - d22 cos sin 3
r13T
r22T
r33T
r51T
Electro Optic Coefficients @ 0.633 m23
= 10 pm/V
r13S = 8.6 pm/V
= 6.8 pm/V
r22S = 3.4 pm/V
= 32.2 pm/V
r33S = 30.8 pm/V
= 32 pm/V
r51S = 28 pm/V
Variation of Electro Optic Coefficient r22 with Wavelength22
And Calculated Half-wave Voltage For 9mmx9mmx25mm Q-Switch
V1/4 = d / ( 4 n3 l r22)
T
r22
V1/4
1.064 m = 5.6 pm/V
1.55 kVolts
1.318 m = 5.4 pm/V
2.02 kVolts
1.55 m = 5.3 pm/V
2.44 kVolts
2.10 m = 5.2 pm/V
3.45 kVolts
2.79 m = 5.1 pm/V
4.78 kVolts
2.94 m = 5.1 pm/V
5.08 kVolts
Damage Threshold2
3 J/cm2 @ 10 nsec
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INRAD Lithium Niobate
THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
Melting Point7
1240 C
Curie Temperature8
1145 C
Thermal Conductivity9
4. W/mK
Thermal diffusivity6
9 x 10-7 m2/sec
Specific Heat9
0.633 J/gK
Thermal Expansion10
Resistivity14
a = 14.1 x 10-6 /K
c = 4.1 x 10-6 /K
2 x 1010 - cm @ 200 C
Dielectric Constants16
K11S = 43
K33S = 28
K11T = 78
K33T = 32
Loss tangent15 @400 C
x-axis Tan =0.0006
y-axis Tan =0.001
Typical Polish Specifications
Wavefront Distortion: / 8 @ 633 nm
/ 10 @ 633 nm
Flatness:
Parallelism:
1 arcseconds
Scratch - Dig:
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10 - 5
INRAD Lithium Niobate
Description
Lithium niobate is a ferroelectric material suitable for a variety of applications. Its versatility
is made possible by the excellent electro-optic, nonlinear, and piezoelectric properties of the
intrinsic material. It is one of the most thoroughly characterized electro-optic materials, and
crystal growing techniques consistently produce large crystals of high perfection.
Applications that utilize the large electro-optic coefficients of lithium niobate are optical
modulation and Q-switching of infrared wavelengths.
Because the crystal is
nonhygroscopic and has a low half-wave voltage, it is often the material of choice for Qswitches in military applications. The crystal can be operated in a Q-switch configuration
with zero residual birefringence and with an electric field that is transverse to the direction of
light propagation. Because piezoelectric ringing can be severe, piezoelectrically damped
designs can be very useful. The damage threshold of the intrinsic material at 1.06 microns
with a 10 nsec pulse is approximately 3 J/cm2. With appropriate AR coatings, a surface
damage threshold of 300-500 MW/cm2 can be achieved for the same conditions.
Applications that use the large nonlinear d coefficient of LiNbO3 include optical parametric
oscillaton, difference frequency mixing to generate tunable infrared wavelengths, and
second harmonic generation. With a broad spectral transmission, which ranges from 0.4
m to 5.0 m with an OH- absorption at 2.87 m, a large negative birefringence, and a large
nonlinear coefficient, phasematching is an effective way to generate tunable wavelengths
over a broad wavelength range.
Lithium niobate is particularly effective for second harmonic generation of low power laser
diodes in the 1.3 to 1.55 m range.
For infrared generation by difference frequency mixing, the peak power limit is considerably
lower than for 1.064 m, being about 40 MW/cm2. Efficiencies for difference frequency
mixing generally are smaller than shg efficicncies with KDP or BBO, which is due to the
lower peak powers that can be tolerated by the crystal and the fact that the longer
wavelength photons that are generated in the process are less energetic. Typical powers
for 10 nanosecond long pulses with 5 mm diameter beams are 30 mJ/pulse of 0.640 m
minus 40 mJ/pulse of 1.064 m to produce 2.5 mJ/pulse at 1.54 m, and 32 mJ/pulse of
0.532 m minus 32 mJ/pulse of 0.640 m to produce 0.25 mJ/pulse at 3.42 m.
INRAD offers lithium niobate in a variety of configurations. Standard cuts are available as
OPO crystals, Q-switches, difference frequency mixing crystals, autocorrelation crystals,
and optical waveguide wafers.
Please consult an INRAD sales engineer for assistance in crystal selection and packaging.
At INRAD, all crystal growth, orientation, fabrication, polishing, and testing of LiNbO3 is done
at one site so that you are assured of complete traceability and satisfaction with every
crystal that you purchase.
page 4 of 5
INRAD Lithium Niobate
References
1.
R.L.Byer, J.F.Young, and R.S.Feigelson, J.Appl.Phys. 41(6), 2320 (1970).
2.
S.C.Abrahams and P.Marsh, Acta.Crystallog.Sec.B, 42, 61 (1986).
3.
J.C.Lambropoulos and T.Fang, Dept. of Mech.Eng.& Center for Optics Manufacturing, Univ. of Rochester.
4.
A.W.Warner, M.Onoe, and G.A.Coquin, J.Acoust.Soc.Am. 42(6), 1223 (1967).
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R.T.Smith and F.S.Welsh, J.Appl.Phys. 42(6), 2219 (1971).
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T.H.Lin, D.Edwards, R.E.Reedy, K.Das, W.McGinnis, and S.H.Lee, Ferroelectrics 77, 153 (1988).
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J.R.Carruthers, G.E.Peterson, M.Grasso, and P.M.Bridenbaugh, J.Appl.Phys. 42, 1846, (1971).
8.
J.C.Brice, The Properties of Lithium Niobate, EMIS Datareviews Series No.5, The Institute of Electrical
Engineers (1989).
9.
V.V.Zhdanova, V.P.Klyuev, V.V.Lemanov, I.A.Smirnov, and V.V.Tikhonov, Sov.Phys.-Solid State (USA) 10,(6)
1360 (1968).
10
D.Taylor, The Properties of Lithium Niobate, EMIS Datareviews Series No.5, The Institute of Electrical
Engineers (1989).
11.
L.P.Avakyants, D.F.Kiselev, and N.N.Shchitov, Sov.Phys.-Solid State 18, 899 (1976).
12.
R.C.Eckardt, H.Masuda, Y.X.Fan, and R.L.Byer IEEE J.Quant.Electron. 26(5), 922 (1990).
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S.D.Smith, H.D.Riccius, and R.P.Edwin, Opt.Comm., 17, 332 (1976) and 20, 188 (1977).
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A.V.Blistanov, Sov. Phys.-Cryst., 6, 688 (1983).
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K.Nassau,et.al, J.Phys.Chem.Solids, 27, 989 (1966).
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I.P.Kaminow and E.H.Turner, Appl. Opt., 5, 1612 (1966).
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E.H.Turner, Appl.Phys.Lett., 8, 303 (1966).
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J.D.Zook, D.Chen, and G.N.Otto, Appl.Phys.Lett., 11, 159 (1967).
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P.V.Lenzo, E.G.Specer, and K.Nassau, Opt.Soc.Am., 56, 633 (1966).
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R.C.Miller and A.Savage, Appl.Phys.Lett., 9, 167 (1966).
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Miller, Norland, and Bridenbaugh, J.Appl.Phys., 42, 4145 (1971).
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INRAD data.
23.
I.P.Kaminow and E.H.Turner, Handbook of Lasers (R.J.Pressley, ed.), 447-459. Chemical Rubber Co.,
Cleveland, Ohio, 1971.
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