Abstract
Measurements of electro-optic and dielectric properties in Zirconium (Zr)-doped lithium niobate (LN:Zr) crystals are performed as functions of the dopant concentration in the range 0.0-2.5 mol%. The clamped and unclamped electro-optic coefficients r 222 of Zr-doped LN and the corresponding dielectric permittivity as well, have been experimentally determined and compared with the results obtained in undoped congruent LN crystals. We show that the electro-optic and dielectric properties present a kink around 2 mol% of zirconium which seems to be the threshold concentration required to strongly reduce the photorefractive effect. All reported results confirm that the LN:Zr is a very promising candidate for several non linear devices.
Highlights
Lithium niobate, LiNbO3 (LN) crystals are studied extensively and used in many applications thanks to their large piezoelectric, electro-optic and nonlinear coefficients
We report, as function of zirconium concentration, experimental results and analysis obtained in the characterization of the EO coefficients r222T and r222S mainly involved in Q-switch laser applications
The point M1 locates at 50% transmission (Imax-Imin)/2 point corresponds to the so-called linear working point. It is associated with the “Modulation Depth Method” (MDM) [25] and can be used to determine the EO coefficient as a function of frequency from DC to 1 MHz defined by the specifications of power supply and signal acquisition electronic apparatus used for these experiments
Summary
LiNbO3 (LN) crystals are studied extensively and used in many applications thanks to their large piezoelectric, electro-optic and nonlinear coefficients. Even if all authors working in this research field suggest that Zr might represent an excellent alternative for obtaining higher optical damage resistance crystals with high optical quality, contradictory data concerning this threshold concentration are reported in literature [21,22,23] It is of interest for EO modulation or Q-switching applications, to know the EO coefficients values of zirconium- doped lithium niobate crystals as function of concentration over a wide frequency range from DC up to high frequencies. This knowledge is so as important since, in addition to photoconductivity, photorefractive behavior is linked to the EO properties. The zirconium concentration of 2 mol% in congruent LN crystal, which corresponds to the minimum observed in the absorption edge position can be considered as a threshold concentration
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