Micro- and nanostructures in lithium niobate single crystals doped with lanthanides

Abstract

Lithium niobate single crystals doped with lanthanides (Gd, Er) and nominally pure single crystals of congruent and stoichiometric compositions have been grown under time-dependent thermal conditions. Regular growth domain microstructures and periodic nanostructures have been investigated by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy with a step from 10 to 100 nm. Comparative investigations of the Raman spectra of lithium niobate single crystals of different compositions have been performed.