GROWTH AND SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 CRYSTALS

Abstract

Congruent Ce (0.1 wt %): Cu (0.05 wt %): LiNbO 3 single crystals doped with 0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 mol% MgO respectively were grown by the Czochrolski method in air along the C direction. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission/mass spectrometry (ICP-OE/MS), the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), the differential thermal analysis (DTA), the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra and the infrared (IR) absorption spectrum were measured and discussed in terms of the spectroscopic characterization and the defect structure of the Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO 3 crystals. The results indicated that the Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO 3 crystal grown from the congruent composition melt showed large [ Li ]/[ Nb ] ratios, which was closer to stoichiometry, an increase in the Curie temperature and a non-linear shift in the absorption edge with MgO concentration increasing. The threshold concentration of MgO in Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO 3 of nearly 5.52 mol% was estimated.