Lattice Dynamics of LiNb 1-xTaxO3 Solid Solutions: Theory and Experiment

Abstract

Lithium niobate (LNO) and lithium tantalate (LTO) see widespread use in fundamental research and commercial technologies reaching from electronics over classical optics to integrated quantum communication. The mixed crystal system lithium niobate tantalate (LNT) allows for the dedicate engineering of material properties by combining the advantages of the two parental materials LNO and LTO. Vibrational spectroscopies such as Raman spectroscopy or (Fourier transform) infrared (IR) spectroscopy are vital techniques to provide detailed insight into the material properties, which is central to the analysis and optimization of devices. This work presents a joint experimental–theoretical approach allowing to unambiguously assign the spectral features in the LNT material family through both Raman and IR spectroscopy, as well as providing an in-depth explanation for the observed scattering efficiencies based on first-principles calculations. The phononic contribution to the static dielectric tensor is calculated from the experimental and theoretical data using the generalized Lyddane–Sachs–Teller relation and compared with the results of the first-principles calculations.