Lattice vibrations and phase-transition soft mode in near stoichiometric lithium niobate crystals

Abstract

At room temperature, Raman-scattering investigations of near stoichiometric lithium niobate (S-LN) crystals theoretically and experimentally reveal an effect of the lattice vacant positions on the Raman spectra. At high temperature, Raman peaks of the mode ν5 vary sensitively and intensely with the increase of the temperature. A condensed soft optical-phonon mode originates from the triply degenerate symmetric in-plane O–Nb–O bending. The paraelectric-ferroelectric structural transition occurs at about 1170°C. The composition homogeneity and optical uniformity of the S-LN crystals are demonstrated to be excellent compared with those of the congruent lithium niobate.