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G&H growing electro-optical crystals - A collection of polished electro-optical crystal boules arranged on a dark surface. The transparent, cylindrical crystals have glossy finishes and unique internal reflections, indicating high purity and precision for use in advanced optical or photonic applications.

Lithium Niobate Crystals (LN & MgO:LN)

G&H Lithium Niobate (LN) and MgO:LN crystals offer excellent electro-optic and nonlinear properties, ideal for modulators, frequency conversion, and high-power laser systems.

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Product description

Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃) is a key crystal for electro-optic, acousto-optic, and nonlinear applications. G&H offers both congruent lithium niobate (CLN) and magnesium-doped lithium niobate (MgO:LN), the latter offering enhanced resistance to photorefractive damage. These materials are fundamental in modulators, waveguides, and frequency conversion devices.

G&H Lithium Niobate (LN) and Magnesium-Oxide-doped Lithium Niobate (MgO:LN) crystals are high-performance materials offering strong electro-optic, piezoelectric, and nonlinear properties, making them ideal for modulators, frequency converters, and waveguides. MgO-doping enhances resistance to photorefractive damage, enabling stable operation in high-power and short-wavelength laser systems.

These crystals are commonly employed in Pockels cells, Q-switches, optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), and second harmonic generation (SHG). G&H supplies precision-polished LN and MgO:LN crystals tailored to exacting optical and crystallographic standards for reliable integration in advanced photonics systems.

LN (LiNbO3 :lithium niobate), particularly suitable for acousto-optic (AO) devices, waveplates, retardation plates, and depolarizers. They are used extensively in the telecommunications and navigation market, for example in the manufacture of optical transmission sub-systems and fiber optic gyroscopes.

Key features

  • Over 70 tons produced annually with unmatched uniformity
  • Custom dopant concentrations and cut orientations
  • High quality Z- and X-cut wafers and substrates
  • In-house polishing and AR coating
  • Available in bulk crystal or wafer form
  • Crystal boules available

Related Products

  • Optical Waveguide Substrates
  • Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN)
  • High power and visible-light frequency conversion modules

Specifications

NameValue
Crystal TypeCongruent LN, MgO:LN
Transparency Range0.4 – 5.0 µm
Nonlinear Coefficient≈ -33 pm/V
Electro-optic Coefficient≈ 33 pm/V
Curie Temperature1142.3 ± 0.7 °C
Surface Quality10/5 uncoated, 20/10 coated
Flatness< λ/8 @ 633 nm

Applications

  • Electro-optic Q-switches and modulators
  • Surface acoustic wave (SAW) and RF devices
  • Integrated optical circuits
  • SHG, DFG, and OPO frequency conversion
  • Waveguide-based light control systems