Single crystals of SrxBa1-xNb2O6 (SBN) with congruent composition (x =
0.61) and Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 crystals doped with various concentration
s of cerium are grown with the Czochralski method. A subsequent doping
of the crystals with protons and deuterons is performed either by hyd
rothermal high temperature treatment or by field supported hydrogen di
ffusion at elevated temperatures in humid atmosphere. The presence of
the protons is revealed by the infrared absorption of the OH stretchin
g vibration. This broad OH absorption band is essentially the same for
Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O(6) and Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6:Ce (0.025 wt% CeO2). It sho
ws a polarization dependence with respect to the c-axis of the tetrago
nal tungsten bronze structure of SrxBa1-xNb2O6, the absorption being s
tronger for light polarized perpendicular to c than for light polarize
d parallel to c. The maximum of the OH absorption band is at nu(01,OH)
($) over bar = 3496 cm(-1) (at room temperature) for light propagating
parallel c. At nu(02,OH)($) over bar = 6817 cm(-1) the very weak firs
t overtone of the OH stretching Vibration can be observed. An analogou
s absorption band of the fundamental OD stretching vibration is observ
ed at nu(01,OD)($) over bar = 2581 cm(-1). The observed OH and OD vibr
ational transition wave numbers can be described very well by a Morse-
type potential.