LiTaO₃ (Lithium Tantalate) Laser-Grade Single Crystal

Advantages

• High laser damage threshold: Exceeds that of LiNbO₃, making LiTaO₃ preferable for high-power laser systems and electro-optic applications requiring durability.
• Excellent electro-optic coefficients: r₃₃ = 30.4 pm/V and r₁₃ = 8 pm/V (at 633 nm), enabling efficient electro-optic modulation and Q-switching.
• Transparency range: 400–5000 nm.
• Thermally stable and chemically inert: Insoluble in water, with stable physical and chemical properties suitable for long-term device operation.
• LiTaO₃ exhibits reduced photorefractive effects compared with LiNbO₃, improving performance in high-intensity laser applications.

Typical Specifications

• Crystal structure: Trigonal, space group R3c; point group 3m
• Lattice parameters: a = 5.154 Å, c = 13.783 Å
• Transparency range: 400–5000 nm
• Refractive indices @ 632.8 nm: nₒ = 2.176, nₑ = 2.180
• Electro-optic coefficients (high frequency, @ 633 nm): r₃₃ = 30.4–33 pm/V, r₁₃ = 8 pm/V, r₂₂ = 20 pm/V
• Nonlinear optical coefficients (@ 1064 nm): d₂₂ = 2.0 pm/V, d₃₁ = −1 pm/V, d₃₃ = −21 pm/V
• Absorption loss: < 0.15%/cm @ 1064 nm
• Melting point: 1650 °C
• Curie temperature: 607–610 °C
• Mohs hardness: 5.5–6.0
• Density: 7.45–7.46 g/cm³
• Thermal expansion coefficients: αₐ = 16 × 10⁻⁶/K, αc = 4 × 10⁻⁶/K
• Dielectric constants (@ 100 kHz): ε₁₁ = 51–54, ε₃₃ = 43–46
• Pyroelectric coefficient: ~2.3 × 10⁻⁴ C/°C/m²

Main Applications

• Electro-optic Q-switches and modulators: LiTaO₃ is used in electro-optic Q-switches and optical modulators, particularly where higher laser damage threshold than LiNbO₃ is required .
• Periodically poled LiTaO₃ (PPLT) frequency conversion: PPLT enables efficient SHG and SFG for blue and red light generation; 752 mW red (671 nm) and 153 mW blue (447 nm) have been demonstrated from a 1342 nm Nd:YVO₄ laser .
• Blue laser systems: High-power blue light generation at 440 nm with 466 mW average power and 8.6% conversion efficiency achieved using periodically. .
• Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices: LiTaO₃ is widely used as a substrate for SAW filters, resonators, and transducers in mobile communications and high-frequency electronics, owing to its excellent piezoelectric properties .
• Pyroelectric detectors: Utilized in pyroelectric infrared detectors for thermal sensing applications .