Crystal Growth and Electro-optic Properties of KTa1−xNbxO3

Abstract

In this paper, we review our technique for growing crystals of potassium tantalate niobate (KTa -x Nb x O 3 , KTN) and discuss its significant electro-optic properties.KTN is a well known singlecrystal material that exhibits a much higher electro-optic effect than conventional materials such as LiNbO 3 .It is also the key material for light deflectors based on a new concept utilizing intrinsic spacecharge-controlled conduction.By using the top seeded solution growth method, we can reproducibly obtain optically homogeneous KTN crystals with volumes of more than 30 cm 3 .Because of the compositional homogeneity of the crystals, the Kerr electro-optic coefficient s exceeds 2.2 0 -4 m 2 /V 2 .This corresponds to a Pockels coefficient of 2200 pm/V with a bias field of 00 V/mm, which is about 70 times larger than that of LiNbO 3 .