Lattice dynamics of orthorhombic NdGaO3

A complete set of infrared-active and Raman-active lattice modes is obtained from density functional theory calculations for single-crystalline centrosymmetric orthorhombic neodymium gallate. The results for infrared-active modes are compared with an analysis of the anisotropic long-wavelength properties using generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry. The frequency-dependent dielectric function tensor and dielectric loss function tensor of orthorhombic neodymium gallium oxide are reported in the spectral range of $80--1200\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. A combined eigendielectric displacement vector summation and dielectric displacement loss vector summation approach augmented by considerations of lattice anharmonicity is utilized to describe the experimentally determined tensor elements. All infrared-active transverse and longitudinal optical mode pairs obtained from density functional theory calculations are identified by our generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry investigation. The results for Raman-active modes are compared to previously published experimental observations. Static and high-frequency dielectric constants from theory as well as experiment are presented and discussed in comparison with values reported previously in the literature.