Abstract:
1,148,080. Lithium niobate. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO. Inc. 7 July, 1966 [12 July, 1965], No. 30534/66. Heading C1A. [Also in Division B1] Lithium niobate crystals are grown from a melt containing, in addition to the lithium and niobium, from 0À1 to 5 atom per cent based on niobium of molybdenum or tungsten and a seed crystal is used and oriented so that the growth proceeds in a direction forming an angle between 18 and 41 degrees with the polar 'c' axis and the growth occurs on the negative end of the crystal. Preferably the crystal is grown by dipping the seed crystal in the melt and subsequently withdrawing it, and the crystal may be rotated during withdrawal. The lithium/niobium atomic ratio is preferably with Œ5% of unity. The crystals obtained may be annealed by heating in oxygen.