The Li-7 qundrupole coupling constant in the LiTaO3 single crystal has been
measured within the temperature range 160 to 460 K. The electric field gra
dient at the lithium site has been computed by using the model of point mul
tipoles taking into account the polarizability of oxygen ions. The increase
of the quadrupole constant with increasing temperature has been treated as
a result of temperature alterations in positional parameters.