LiNbO3 Crystal for Modulator

LiNbO3: High-performance electro-optic modulators and Q-switches
LiNbO3 is a high-performance electro-optic modulator and Q-switch widely used in Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, and Ti:Sapphire lasers.
It also delivers outstanding performance as a modulator in fiber optics.
This crystal is typically used as a Q-switch for transverse electro-optic modulation, where light propagates in the z-axis direction and an electric field is applied to the x-axis.
The electro-optic coefficients of LiNbO3 are r33=32 pm/V, r31=10 pm/V, r22=6.8 pm/V at low-frequency and r33=31 pm/V, r31=8.6 pm/V, r22=3.4 pm/V at high electric field frequency.
The half-wave voltage is Vπ=λd/(2no3r22L), and rc=(ne/no)3r33-r13.

LiNbO3 Q-Switch Specifications

LiNbO3 is also a good acousto-optic crystal and used for surface acoustic wave (SAW) wafer and A-O modulators.
CHEMI provides acoustic (SAW) grade LiNbO3 crystals in wafers, as-cut boules, finished components and custom fabricated elements.
Size 9 × 9 × 25 mm3 or 4 × 4 × 15 mm3, Other size is available upon request
Tolerance of Size Z-axis: ±0.2 mm, X-axis and Y-axis: ±0.1 mm
Chamfer less than 0.5 mm at 45°
Accuracy of Orientation Z-axis: < ± 5’, X-axis and Y-axis: < ± 10’
Parallelism < 20"
Finish 10/5 scratch/dig
Flatness λ/8 at 633 nm
AR-Coating R < 0.2 % @ 1064 nm
Electrodes Gold/Chrome Plated on X-Faces
Wavefront Distortion <λ/4 @ 633 nm
Extinction Ratio > 400:1 @ 633 nm, φ6 mm beam

Typical SAW Properties

Cut Type SAW Velocity Vs(m/s) Electromechanical
Coupling Factor k2s(%)		 Temperature Coefficient
of Velocity TCV (10-6/℃)		 Temperature Coefficient
of Delay TCD (10-6/℃)
127.86° Y-X 3970 5.5 -60 78
Y-X 3485 4.3 -85 95

Typical Specifications

※ 127.86 °Y, 64 °Y, 135 °Y, X, Y, Z, and other cut
Type Specifications Boule Boule Wafer Wafer
Diameter Φ3" Φ4" Φ3" Φ4"
Length or Thickness (mm) ≤100 ≤50 0.35-0.5 0.35-0.5
Orientation ※ ※ ※ ※
Ref. Flat Orientation X, Y X, Y X, Y X, Y
Ref. Flat Length 22 ± 2 mm 32 ± 2 mm 22 ± 2 mm 32 ± 2 mm
Front Side Polishing Mirror polished 5-15 Å Mirror polished 5-15 Å
Back Side Lapping 0.3-1.0 µm 0.3-1.0 µm
Flatness (mm) ≤15 ≤15
Bow (mm) ≤25 ≤25