Lithium niobate structures

IR spectroscopy can be used to distinguish several different phases characterized by the stoichiometry ABO3 (Table 3.4), such as cubic, tetragonal, orthorombic and rhombohedral perovskites (such as SrTiOs, BaTiOs, LaFeOs and LaMnOs, respectively [56, 64, 65]), from ilmenites and lithium niobate structures. In Figure 3.10 the spectrum of LaFeOs is reported. It shows some of the 26 IR active modes expected. 

Figure 11.6 AMF3 crystal structures, (a) Ideal cubic perovskite structure, (b) Tilting of MXg octahedra in orthorhombically distorted AMF3 perovskites. (c) RbNiF3 CSC0F3 and CsNiF3 crystal structures, (d) Crystal structure of lithium niobate.

A lithium niobate crystal doped with Pr + ions is excited with light of wavelength 470 nm. Structured emission bands centered around 620 nm, 710 nm, 880 nm, and 1062 nm are observed. Using the Dieke diagram, identify the excited and terminal states responsible for the previous emission bands. 

Barium titanate is one example of a ferroelectric material. Other oxides with the perovskite structure are also ferroelectric (e.g., lead titanate and lithium niobate). One important set of such compounds, used in many transducer applications, is the mixed oxides PZT (PbZri-Ji/Ds). These, like barium titanate, have small ions in Oe cages which are easily displaced. Other ferroelectric solids include hydrogen-bonded solids, such as KH2PO4 and Rochelle salt (NaKC4H406.4H20), salts with anions which possess dipole moments, such as NaNOz, and copolymers of poly vinylidene fluoride. It has even been proposed that ferroelectric mechanisms are involved in some biological processes such as brain memory and voltagedependent ion channels concerned with impulse conduction in nerve and muscle cells. 

In contrast, the nonlinearities in bulk materials are due to the response of electrons not associated with individual sites, as it occurs in metals or semiconductors. In these materials, the nonlinear response is caused by effects of band structure or other mechanisms that are determined by the electronic response of the bulk medium. The first nonlinear materials that were applied successfully in the fabrication of passive and active photonic devices were in fact ferroelectric inorganic crystals, such as the potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal or the lithium niobate (LiNbO,) [20-22]. In the present, potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal is broadly used as a laser frequency doubler, while the lithium niobate is the main material for optical electrooptic modulators that operate in the near-infrared spectral range. Another ferroelectric inorganic crystal, barium titanate (BaTiOj), is currently used in phase-conjugation applications [23]. 

Weis, R.S., Gaylord, T.K. Lithium niobate Summary of physical properties and crystal structure, Appl. Phys. A 36, 191-203 (1985)... 

Lithium-Niobate and Lithium-Tantalate Lithium-niobate (LN) and lithium-tantalate (LT) are uniaxial p3Toelectrics, having trigonal structure, with spontaneous polarization arising from asymmetrical displacement of lithium relative to the other ions. These materials Tc values are 1,210 °C and 620 °C, respectively. They are always produced commercially in single-crystal forms. Both are much used for surface acoustic wave devices (e.g., high-frequency filters), while LT is used for pyroelectric detection due to its large pyroelectric coefficient and low permittivity. 

W. Que and S. Lim, Evaluation of micro-structure characteristics of lithium niobate single-crystal fiber with... 

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