A study on the influence of ytterbium and impurities on lattice parameters and the phase transition temperature of Czochralski-grown LiNbO3 Original Research Article

LiNbO3 crystals were grown from a congruent melt by the Czochralski method. Special care was taken with respect to purity and an analysis of impurity levels. Present crystals are as pure as 3N–4N. In particular, doping by Yb3+ was investigated. An upper limit for the inclusion of Yb3+ in LiNbO3 may be set at 2.5 mol% for a congruent melt. Present results demonstrate the complex interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic defects in LiNbO3. The variation of lattice parameters supports evidence for the Li+ vacancy model and an occupation of Li sites for Yb3+. Data on purities, laser properties and analytical methods provide a short review on a field, where analytical results gained by different techniques often may disagree.