Second-order non-linear optical (NLO) properties of doped lithium niobate (
LN) crystals (abbreviated as M:LN, where M = Mg2+, Zn2+, and In3+, respecti
vely) have been quantitatively studied from the chemical bond viewpoint. Ou
r results show that the second-order NLO response of doped LN crystals decr
eases remarkably with increasing dopant concentration in the crystal. The a
pproximately linear composition-property correlation in these doped LN crys
tals is quantitatively expressed in the current work. A comparison of the d
ifferent influences of Mg, Zn and In dopants. respectively, shows that thes
e dopants affect the NLO properties of LN crystals mainly via the number of
Li-site vacancies induced. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser
ved.