Lithium Niobate LiNbO3 Piezoelectric Effect Crystals Negative Uniaxial
Lithium niobate LiNbO3 LN single crystal substrate for Pyroelectric
LiNbO3 (Lithium niobate, LN) crystal is a negative uniaxial crystal and one of the most thoroughly characterized optical materials. With its wide transparency range in the visible and mid-infradred and the excellent chemical and mechanical stability, LN crystal can be used as a bifrengent material for applications in infrared.
With its large electro-optic coefficients, wide optical transparency window, and availability of high optical quality crystals, LN (lithium niobate) crystal is often the material of choice for optical modulation and Q-switch at near-infrared and infrared wavelengths. For electro-optic modulators (EOM) the crystal can be z-cut with zero residual birefringence along the direction of light propagation or x-cut with non-zero residual birefringence and the maximized effective electro-optic coefficient. For Q-switch the crystal is typically z-cut with zero residual birefringence and an electric field is applied transverse to the direction of light propagation. The piezoelectric ringing in LN is a disadvantage at high repetition frequency, but can be overcome to some extent with proper piezoelectrically damped designs.
Crystro provides:
LiNbO3 is also a good acousto-optic crystal and used for surface acoustic wave (SAW) wafer and A-O modulators. Crystro provides acoustic (SAW) grade LiNbO3 crystals in wafers, as-cut boules, finished components and custom fabricated elements.
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Basic Properties of LiNbO3:
| Crystal Sturucture | Trigonal, Space group R3c, Point group 3m |
| Melting Point | 1253℃ |
| Mohs Hardness | 5 |
| Density | 4.64g/cm3 |
| Deliquescence | None |
| Optical Homogeneity | ~5x10-5/cm |
| Transparency Range | 420-5200nm |
| Absorption Coefficient | ~0.1%/cm @1064nm |
| Refractive Indices at 1064nm | ne=2.146, no=2.220@1300nm ne=2.156, no=2.232@1064nm ne=2.203, no=2.286@632.8nm |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficients (at 25℃ ) | //a,2.0x10-6/K //a,2.2x10-6/K |
| Thermal Conductivity Coefficients | 38 W/m/K at 25℃ |
| Thermal Optical Coefficients | dno/dT=-0.874 x 10-6/K at 1.4μm dne/dT=39.073 x 10-6/K at 1.4μm |
| The Sellmeier Equations (λ in μm) | no2=4.9048+0.11768/(λ2-0.04750)-0.027169λ2 ne2=4.5820+0.099169/(λ2-0.04443)-0.02195λ2 |
Typical SAW Properties
| Cut Type | SAW Velocity Vs (m/s) | Electromechanical Coupling Factor K2s(%) | Temperature Coefficient of Velocity TCV (10-6/℃) | Temperature Coefficient of Delay TCD (10-6/℃) |
| 127.86 ° Y-X | 3970 | 5.5 | -60 | 78 |
| Y-X | 3485 | 4.3 | -85 | 95 |
Typical Specifications
| Specifications | Boule | Wafer | ||
| Diameter | Φ3'' | Φ4'' | Φ3'' | Φ4'' |
| Length or Thickness (mm) | ≤100 | ≤50 | 0.35-0.5 | |
| Orientation | 127.86°Y,64°Y,135°Y,X,Y,Z, and other cut | |||
| Ref.Flat Orientation | X,Y | |||
| Ref.Flat Length | 22±2mm | 32±2mm | 22±2mm | 32±2mm |
| Front Side polishing | / | Mirror polished 5-15 Å | ||
| Back Side Lapping | / | 0.3-1.0μm | ||
| Flatness (μm) | / | ≤15 | ||
| Bow (μm) | / | ≤25 | ||
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