Experimentally determined r13 electro-optic coefficient for a lithium niobate crystal

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Crystallography

Background:

• Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a crucial material in optoelectronics due to its significant electro-optic properties.
• The electro-optic coefficient, specifically r13, governs the crystal's response to applied electric fields, impacting device performance.
• Accurate characterization of electro-optic coefficients is vital for the design and optimization of photonic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine the electro-optic coefficient r13 of a z-cut lithium niobate crystal.
• To utilize a Fabry-Perot etalon as a substrate for precise measurement.
• To compare the experimentally obtained r13 value with existing literature data.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Fabry-Perot etalon using a z-cut lithium niobate crystal as the substrate.
• Measurement of the voltage tuning curve of the Fabry-Perot etalon.
• Calculation of the electro-optic coefficient r13 based on the measured voltage tuning characteristics.

Main Results:

• The electro-optic coefficient r13 was successfully computed from the experimental data.
• The determined r13 value for the z-cut lithium niobate crystal was found to be lower than most previously reported values.
• This suggests potential variations in material properties or measurement methodologies.

Conclusions:

• The experimental method provides a viable approach for determining the electro-optic coefficient r13.
• The observed lower r13 value warrants further investigation into material quality and measurement precision.
• Further studies are recommended to reconcile the discrepancy with literature values and understand its implications for device applications.