LiNbO3
LiNbO3
Crystal is widely used as frequency doublers for wavelength > 1 µm
and optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) pumped at 1064 nm as well as
quasi-phase-matched (QPM) devices, due to its large Electro-Optic (E-O)
and Acousto-Optic (A-O) coefficients.
Basic Properties:
Crystal Structure: Trigonal, space group R 3c
Cell Parameters: a = 0.515, c = 13.863, Z = 6
Melting Point: 1255 +/-5°C
Curie Point: 1140 +/-5°C
Mohs Hardness: 5
Density: 4.64 g/cm^3
Absorption Coefficient: ~ 0.1%/cm @ 1064 nm
Solubility: insoluble in water
Relative Dielectric Constant: ε11/ε0:
85, ε33/ε0: 29.5
Thermal Expansion Coefficients: //a 2.0 x 10 -6 /K , //c 2.2 x 10 -6 /K@
25°C
Thermal Conductivity 38 W /m /K @ 25°C
MgO:LiNbO3:
Compared with LiNbO3 crystal, MgO:LiNbO3 crystal exhibits particular advantages for NCPM frequency doubling (SHG) of Nd:Lasers, mixing (SFG) and optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). The SHG efficiencies of over 65% for pulsed Nd:YAG lasers and 45% for CW Nd:YAG lasers have been achieved in MgO:LiNbO3 Crystals respectively. MgO:LiNbO3 is also good for optical parametric oscillators(OPOs) and amplifiers (OPAs), quasi-phase-matched doublers and integrated waveguide.
MgO:LiNbO3 is characerized by:
• High damage threshold;
• Noncritical phase matching(NCPM)at room temperature;
• Broad transparency range;
• Excellent E-O and NLO properties;
• Good mechanical and chemical properties.
MgO:LiNbO3 has similar effective nonlinear coefficients to pure LiNbO3.
Its Sellmeier equations (for 5mo1% MgO dopant) are(λ in µm):
no2=4.8762+0.11554 / (L^2-0.04674 ) -0.033119 x L^2
ne2=4.5469+0.094779 / L^2-0.04439) -0.026721 x L^2
Periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) is developed for quasi phase matching of the LiNbO3 crystal. PPLN expanped the functionality of LiNbO3 as OPO and SHG applications. To get stable operation, PPLN is usually put inside a crystal oven with temperature controller, because the inverted (poled) portions of the crystal is sensitive to the temperature changing.
OptoCity offer both bulk and waveguide devices fabricated from LiNbO3 wafer for a wide range of applications.
