| Crystal Research and Technology |
Refractive indices were determined of single crystals of La3Ga5SiO14 (langasite, LGS), La3Ga5.5Nb0.5O14 (langanite, LGN) and La3Ga5.5Ta0.5O14 (langataite, LGT) in the wavelength region between 0.36 μm and 2.33 μm. While phase-matched optical second harmonic generation is not possible in LGS it occurs in the isotypic compounds LGN and LGT. Temperature-dependent examination of the dielectric properties of LGS up to 600°C showed anomalous behaviour. For all three substances the electro-optic [rijk] (“unclamped”) and the piezoelectric [dijk] tensors were determined at room temperature. In addition, the temperature-dependence of these properties was studied for LGS between –200°C and +200°C by a Jamin interferometer in combination with a modified Sénarmont compensator.
Keywords: langasite, langanite, langataite, electro-optic properties, dielectric constants, refractive indices, piezoelectric coefficients