Lithium tantalate (LiTaO₃) Substrates

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We are planning to buy a few lithium tantalate crystals for experiments. We use typically crystals with dimension of 10 x 10 x 0.5 mm along <111> direction. Our main concerns are the roughness and surface quality of the crystals. I have found that our company sells LiTaO3 crystals. Can you please information about the roughness and quality of the surface? 

Item# Dia Ori Thick s Pol Material Ra
288365 10 x 10mm <111> 0.5mm DSP LiTaO3 <1nm

Reference #288365 for specs and pricing.

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What Is Lithium Tantalate?

Lithium tantalate (LiTaO₃) is a crystalline material widely used in electronics, optics, and photonics due to its exceptional piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and optical properties. It is part of the perovskite family of crystals.

Key Properties of Lithium Tantalate

  1. Material Composition:

    • A compound of lithium (Li), tantalum (Ta), and oxygen (O). Lithium Tantalate (LiTaO₃) surface acoustic wave (SAW) device.
    • Chemical formula: LiTaO₃.

  2. Crystal Structure:

    • Trigonal crystal system.
    • Non-centrosymmetric, which contributes to its piezoelectric and nonlinear optical properties.

  3. Piezoelectric Properties:

  4. Ferroelectric Properties:

    • Exhibits spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by an external electric field.
    • High Curie temperature (~600°C), making it stable over a broad temperature range.

  5. Optical Properties:

    • High refractive index and low optical loss.
    • Transparent over a wide spectral range, from visible to mid-infrared.
    • Excellent material for nonlinear optical applications (e.g., frequency doubling of lasers).

  6. Thermal and Mechanical Stability:

    • High thermal conductivity and stability.
    • Mechanically robust, making it suitable for rugged environments.

Applications of Lithium Tantalate

  1. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Devices:

    • Commonly used in filters and resonators for mobile phones, televisions, and other RF communication systems.

  2. Nonlinear Optics:

    • Frequency conversion, such as second-harmonic generation (SHG) in lasers.

  3. Electro-Optic Applications:

    • Used in modulators, switches, and other devices where its electro-optic effect is exploited.

  4. Infrared and THz Generation:

    • LiTaO₃ is used in generating terahertz waves and infrared light due to its broad transparency and nonlinear optical properties.

  5. Medical and Sensing Applications:

    • Biosensors and pressure sensors leveraging its piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties.

  6. Photonics:

    • Waveguides and integrated optics.

Lithium tantalate is often compared to lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) due to their similar properties, but LiTaO₃ typically exhibits lower optical losses and higher chemical stability, making it preferable for certain high-performance applications.