Structural homogeneity of photorefractive LiNbO3 crystals doped with 0.03–4.5 mol % of ZnO

Visualization of Optical Uniformity Alloyed Single Crystals of Lithium Niobate

“…Laser conoscopy has acquired particular information for the investigation of subtle structural distortions, both intrinsic and induced by laser radiation in photorefractive nonlinear optical crystals. It has become possible to use laser conoscopy to study the fine features of the structure, the effect of photorefraction, nonlinear optical effects in combination with other research methods: Raman light scattering, photoinduced (photorefractive) light scattering (FIRS), electron spectroscopy, etc., substantially supplementing the data of these methods [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…It should be noted that the optical transmission edge of the LiNbO3: Zn crystal (4.5 mol. %) is characterized by the steepest rise and a significant shift to the short-wavelength region compared to other crystals [7]. This is associated with a significant decrease (near the threshold) in the number of NbLi defects and, accordingly, with a low probability of a change in the charge state of NbLi defects (the appearance of Nb 4+ cations) and the formation of local disturbances in the oxygen sublattice of the crystal, leading to the formation of charged centers that change the nature of the optical absorption of the crystal [7].…”