Visualization of Optical Uniformity Alloyed Single Crystals of Lithium Niobate

Abstract:

It was shown that laser conoscopy can visually detect even slight changes in the optical characteristics of a crystal when it is doped. It has been found that the defective structure of LiNbO₃:Zn (4.5 mol. %), LiNbO₃:Mg (3.0–5.5 mol.%) crystals associated with an uneven entry of an impurity leads to a local change in the elastic characteristics of the crystal and the appearance of mechanical stresses that distort the conoscopic patterns. This can be an abnormal optical biaxiality, which manifests itself in the form of a rupture and enlightenment of the "Maltese cross" in the center of the conoscopic crystal pattern, or local birefringent inclusions that are recorded as additional interference patterns against the background of the main conoscopic pattern, both in the center of the field of view and in its peripheral area.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 312)
• Pages: 140-147
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.312.140
• Online since: November 2020
• Authors: O. Pikoul*, Nikolay V. Sidorov, Natalya A. Teplyakova, Mikhail N. Palatnikov
• Keywords: Conoscopic Pattern, Laser Conoscopy, Lithium Niobate, Optical Homogeneity

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