CY0503 Lithium Iodate Crystal (LiIO3 Crystal)

Lithium Iodate Crystal (LiIO₃ Crystal) — Product Overview

Lithium Iodate Crystal, chemical formula LiIO₃, is a nonlinear optical material made of lithium, iodine, and oxygen. It has a hexagonal crystal structure and shows strong birefringence. The crystal transmits light from 0.5 to 5.0 micrometers, covering ultraviolet to infrared ranges. This makes it suitable for various laser and photonics applications.

The crystal is non-centrosymmetric, enabling second-order nonlinear optical effects. It supports processes like second-harmonic generation and parametric frequency conversion. Lithium Iodate Crystals can be polished to high optical standards. Typical flatness is λ/4 at 633 nm. Surface quality meets 20/10 scratch-dig specifications. Its Mohs hardness is 3.5 to 4. Although relatively soft, the crystal maintains stability under moderate laser exposure.

Key Characteristics

• Transmission Range: 0.5–5.0 μm

• Crystal Structure: Hexagonal

• Point Group: 6

• High birefringence

• Non-centrosymmetric (enables second-order effects)

• Density: 4.487 g/cm³

• Mohs Hardness: 3.5–4.0

• Absorption at 1064 nm: less than 0.05 cm⁻¹

Lithium Iodate Crystal Application

• Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG)
  LiIO₃ converts fundamental laser light into its second harmonic. It works well at wavelengths like 532 nm and 1064 nm. This is important in laser measurement and UV laser generation.

• Optical Parametric Oscillators (OPO) and Amplifiers (OPA)
  The crystal’s broad transmission and nonlinear properties make it suitable for tunable laser sources. It’s used in spectroscopy, sensing, and remote detection.

• Quantum Optics
  LiIO₃ is a common material for experiments with photon pairs, wave mixing, and quantum communication.

• Photonics and Telecommunications
  It’s integrated into modulators and wavelength converters for optical communication.

• Laser Engineering
  Used in mode-locked and tunable lasers where stable nonlinear performance is critical.