Lithium Tantalate exhibits unique electro-optical, pyroelectric and
piezoelectric properties combined with good mechanical and chemical
stability and , wide transparency range and high optical damage
threshold. This makes LiTaO3 well-suited for numerous applications
including electro-optical modulators, pyroelectric detectors, optical
waveguide and SAW substrates, piezoelectric transducers etc. LiTaO3
crystals grown along X-axis, fully poled, maximum size 60 mm diameter
and length are available as alternative material for E-O modulators,
pyroelectric sensors, etc.
Material Properties
Crystal
symmetry
|
Trigonal, 3m
|
Lattice constant, A
|
a = 5.154 c = 13.783
|
Density, g/cm3
|
7.45
|
Melting point , °C
|
1650
|
Curie point , °C
|
610
|
Mohs hardness
|
6
|
Solubility
|
Insoluble in water
|
Color
|
Colorless or light yellow
|
Thermal expansion coefficient, 10-6/ °C
|
aa = 16 ac = 4
|
Specific heat, cal/g°C
|
0.06
|
Thermal conductivity , mW/cm °C
|
46
|
Dielectric Constant (@ 100 KHz)
|
ea = 54 ec = 43
|
Transparency range, nm
|
400 - 5500
|
Refractive indices @ 633 nm
|
no = 2.175 ne = 2.180
|
Electro-optic coefficients
pm/V @633 nm, high frequency
|
r33 = 33
r13 = 8
r22 = 20
|
Nonlinear optical coefficients
p/m/V @ 1064 nm
|
d22 = 2.0
d31 = - 1
d33 = -21
|
Pyroelectric Coefficient:
|
-2.3 10-4 C/°C/m2
|
Optical homogeneity
|
~10-5
|
Absorption loss @ 1064 nm
|
< 0.15 %/cm
|
|