Spatial distribution of optical coloration in single crystalline LiNbO3 after high-temperature H-2/air treatments

作者:Sugak D Yu*; Syvorotka I I; Buryy O A; Yakhnevych U V; Solskii I M; Martynyuk N V; Suhak Yu; Suchocki A; Zhydachevskii Ya; Jakiela R; Ubizskii S B; Singh G; Janyani V
来源:Optical Materials, 2017, 70: 106-115.
DOI:10.1016/j.optmat.2017.05.022

摘要

The paper presents results of investigations of optical absorption spatial changes in congruent bulk LiNbO3 crystals in 300-800 nm spectral region along X, Y, Z directions caused by high-temperature (400 700 degrees C) annealing in H-2 and, subsequently, in air. As it is shown, the coloration/discoloration processes are anisotropic: a maximal depth of coloration is observed for Z direction and a minimal one for X direction. The reversibility of optical properties with respect to the annealing atmosphere changes as well as results of investigations by SIMS and IR spectroscopy methods suggest that the oxygen loss/incorporation. processes play a major role in the coloration/discoloration. The additional absorption spectrum caused by reduction consists of three bands, whose nature is associated with different point defects: 350-410 nm defects in anion sublattice, 500-520 nm bipolarons; 700-750 nm bound polarons. Individual contributions of the bands to the additional absorption spectra depend on the annealing temperature and on the distance from the crystal surface. During reduction lithium oxide is leaving the crystal which leads to the formation of Li2O-depleted structural phase LiNb3O8 in near surface regions. Experimentally obtained distribution of depth-dependent additional absorption in reduced crystals was successfully approximated basing on the oxygen vacancies diffusion model and solution of differential equations set describing a quasichemical reaction of bipolarons formation due to the oxygen loss in LiNbO3 crystal. On the other hand, this model does not allow to describe accurately the depth-dependent discoloration after oxidizing annealing of previously reduced lithium niobate crystals.

  • 出版日期2017-8