Abstract
Lithium niobate (LN) crystals have usually been grown nonstoichiometric and congruent, of the same composition with the melt. Consequently they contain many defects such as the Nb antisite due to Li-deficiency. This chapter investigates electron spin resonance (ESR) of Nd3+ and Er3+ in congruent (CL) and VTE-treated LiNbO3 (VL) crystals. Rare earth ions such as Nd3+ and Er3+ in congruent LiNbOa and nearly stoichiometric crystals have been investigated to identify their local symmetry and structures with an X-band electron spin resonance spectrometer at liquid helium temperature. The spin Hamiltonian parameters of Nd3+ and Er3+ in LiNbOs could be precisely determined with nearly stoichiometric crystals by the reduction of intrinsic defects. Nearly stoichiometric samples were obtained by the vapor transport equilibrium (VTE) treatment or an addition of small amount of K2O powder in the starting mixture. Rare earth doped lithium niobate has been known to widespread potentials for laser devices such as laser frequency converter and optical parametric oscillator.
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