Optical constants of LiNbO3 (Lithium niobate)
Santos-Amador et al. 2026: n(e) 8.34–43.4 µm
Complex refractive index (n+ik)
Derived optical constants
Conditions
optical_component: e
Comments
Extraordinary optical constants (e). Congruent LiNbO3 crystal. Room temperature. Optical constants are reported in the mid-infrared spectral range. The extraordinary dielectric response corresponds to the A1-symmetry phonon modes polarized along the z axis. Optical constants were obtained from a factorized TO–LO dielectric function model, constrained and cross-validated using generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry, polarized Raman spectroscopy, and infrared reflectance measurements. The model describes the dielectric response of X-cut, 128° rotated Y-cut, and Z-cut LiNbO3 samples through appropriate crystallographic rotations.
References
A. Santos-Amador, J. Puebla, O. Del Pozo-Zamudio, and R. E. Balderas-Navarro. Anisotropic dielectric function of X-, Y-128°, and Z-Cut LiNbO3 crystals from combined infrared ellipsometry, Raman, and reflectance spectroscopy. Phys. Rev. Mater. 10, 095202 (2026) (Numerical data kindly provided by Armando Santos-Amador)
Data
Additional information
About Lithium niobate
Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a ferroelectric material with excellent electro-optic, piezoelectric, and nonlinear optical properties. It is widely used in integrated optics, optoelectronic devices, and telecommunication applications. LiNbO3 crystals are often employed in modulators, switches, waveguide devices, and frequency doublers. Due to its strong Pockels effect, it is a popular choice for Q-switching in solid-state lasers and is a key material in the fabrication of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. The material is generally transparent in the wide wavelength range from the near-infrared to the ultraviolet, making it versatile for various optical applications.
Other names and variations
- LiNbO3
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