Photoinduced Raman scattering in nominally pure lithium niobate crystals

Abstract Raman scattering in nominally pure lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) crystals has been studied at high-intensity excitation. Significant photoinduced perturbations of Raman spectra of congruently melting LiNbO3 are discovered in contrast to Raman scattering observed in both nearly stoichiometric LiNbO3 and congruently melting LiTaO3. Our study allows assignment of these perturbations to the photorefractive (PR) effect and, therefore, comparison of the PR damage resistance of the crystals studied.