lithium niobate / Data / dispersion
Dispersion models
n(λ) from the stored coefficients
Axis
Temperature acts on the Gayer 2008 models; Zelmon 1997 is defined at 21 °C only. Bars: validity windows, numbered as in the table.
| No. | Model | Axis | Window | n | ng | T used | Status | Plot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | e | 0.4 to 5 µm, 21 °C | 2.13756 | 2.1823 | 21.0 °C | P-db | |
| 2 | Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | o | 0.4 to 5 µm, 21 °C | 2.21111 | 2.2637 | 21.0 °C | P-db | |
| 3 | Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary (erratum applied) | e | 0.4 to 5 µm, 21 °C | 2.12993 | 2.1734 | 21.0 °C | P-db | |
| 4 | Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary (erratum applied) | o | 0.4 to 5 µm, 21 °C | 2.20817 | 2.2599 | 21.0 °C | P-db | |
| 5 | Gayer 2008, 1 mol% MgO:stoichiometric LiNbO3, extraordinary | e | 0.5 to 4 µm, 20 to 200 °C | 2.12580 | 2.1692 | 24.5 °C | P | |
| 6 | Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | e | 0.5 to 4 µm, 20 to 200 °C | 2.13057 | 2.1743 | 24.5 °C | P | |
| 7 | Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | o | 0.5 to 1.62 µm, 20 to 100 °C | 2.20881 | 2.2607 | 24.5 °C | P |
Wavelength axis
Errata and caveats
| Model | Erratum | Effect | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | none | – | – |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | none | – | – |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary (erratum applied) | Erratum, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 43(11), 2788 (2026): the headings for the ordinary and extraordinary index for 5 mol.% doped lithium niobate are switched, doi:10.1364/JOSAB.616304 (applied) Gayer et al., Appl. Phys. B 91, 343 (2008), p. 348: the Zelmon MgO5 n_o and n_e parameters 'were switched by mistake', doi:10.1007/s00340-008-2998-2 (applied) | The 1997 Table 2 MgO5 'o' row is the extraordinary index and vice versa; the coefficients here are assigned to the corrected axes (as already done by refractiveindex.info). Earliest printed notice of the same swap. | – |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary (erratum applied) | Erratum, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 43(11), 2788 (2026): the headings for the ordinary and extraordinary index for 5 mol.% doped lithium niobate are switched, doi:10.1364/JOSAB.616304 (applied) Gayer et al., Appl. Phys. B 91, 343 (2008), p. 348: the Zelmon MgO5 n_o and n_e parameters 'were switched by mistake', doi:10.1007/s00340-008-2998-2 (applied) | The 1997 Table 2 MgO5 'o' row is the extraordinary index and vice versa; the coefficients here are assigned to the corrected axes (as already done by refractiveindex.info). Earliest printed notice of the same swap. | – |
| Gayer 2008, 1 mol% MgO:stoichiometric LiNbO3, extraordinary | Erratum, Appl. Phys. B 94, 367 (2009), doi:10.1007/s00340-008-3316-8 (applied) | Replaces Fig. 3 (dispersion plot) only; Table 1 coefficients unchanged. | dn/dT from these coefficients: -7.1e-5 /K at 1550 nm (negative); do not use for absolute dn/dT. The refractiveindex.info comment calling this material congruent is wrong; the paper labels it SLN. |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | Erratum, Appl. Phys. B 94, 367 (2009), doi:10.1007/s00340-008-3316-8 (applied) | Replaces Fig. 3 (dispersion plot) only; Table 1 coefficients unchanged. | dn/dT from these coefficients is anomalous (2.65e-4 /K for MgO5 n_e at 1550 nm vs 3.75e-5 /K from Jundt CLN). Do not use for absolute dn/dT. Wavelength validity from the refractiveindex.info entries; temperature validity from the paper. |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | Erratum, Appl. Phys. B 94, 367 (2009), doi:10.1007/s00340-008-3316-8 (applied) | Replaces Fig. 3 (dispersion plot) only; Table 1 coefficients unchanged. | n_o is reliable only to 1620 nm and about 20-100 C (Gayer et al. 2008 p. 348); refractiveindex.info lists 0.5-1.7 um. dn/dT from these coefficients: 1.11e-4 /K at 1550 nm; do not use for absolute dn/dT. |
Check values
| Model | λ (nm) | T (°C) | stored n | computed n | difference | tolerance | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 632.8 | 21 | 2.20220 | 2.20222 | +1.7e-5 | 6e-5 | computed from these coefficients |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1064 | 21 | 2.15550 | 2.15554 | +3.6e-5 | 6e-5 | computed |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1550 | 21 | 2.13760 | 2.13756 | −4.0e-5 | 6e-5 | computed |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 632.8 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.20280 | 2.20222 | −5.8e-4 | 8e-4 | Nelson & Mikulyak 1974 via Weis & Gaylord 1985 Table 2; Zelmon is 6e-4 lower |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1060 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.15610 | 2.15575 | −3.5e-4 | 8e-4 | Nelson & Mikulyak 1974 via Weis & Gaylord 1985 Table 2 |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 632.8 | 21 | 2.28650 | 2.28646 | −3.9e-5 | 6e-5 | computed from these coefficients |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 1064 | 21 | 2.23210 | 2.23211 | +5.6e-6 | 6e-5 | computed |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 1550 | 21 | 2.21110 | 2.21111 | +1.1e-5 | 6e-5 | computed |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 632.8 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.28660 | 2.28646 | −1.4e-4 | 5e-4 | Nelson & Mikulyak 1974 via Weis & Gaylord 1985 Table 2; independent measurement |
| Zelmon 1997, congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 1060 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.23230 | 2.23235 | +5.0e-5 | 6e-4 | Nelson & Mikulyak 1974 via Weis & Gaylord 1985 Table 2; independent measurement |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary (erratum applied) | 1550 | 21 | 2.12990 | 2.12993 | +3.0e-5 | 6e-5 | computed, corrected Zelmon MgO5 |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary (erratum applied) | 1550 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.13060 | 2.12993 | −6.7e-4 | 1e-3 | Gayer et al. 2008 MgO5 n_e at 24.5 C (computed); independent model |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary (erratum applied) | 1550 | 21 | 2.20820 | 2.20817 | −3.3e-5 | 6e-5 | computed, corrected Zelmon MgO5 |
| Zelmon 1997, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary (erratum applied) | 1550 | 24.5 (model 21) | 2.20880 | 2.20817 | −6.3e-4 | 1e-3 | Gayer et al. 2008 MgO5 n_o at 24.5 C (computed); independent model |
| Gayer 2008, 1 mol% MgO:stoichiometric LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1550 | 24.5 | 2.12580 | 2.12580 | +2.0e-6 | 6e-5 | computed from these coefficients |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1550 | 24.5 | 2.13060 | 2.13057 | −3.0e-5 | 6e-5 | computed from these coefficients |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, extraordinary | 1550 | 21 | 2.12990 | 2.12965 | −2.5e-4 | 2e-3 | Zelmon et al. 1997 corrected MgO5 n_e; independent model |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 1550 | 24.5 | 2.20880 | 2.20881 | +1.3e-5 | 6e-5 | computed from these coefficients |
| Gayer 2008, 5 mol% MgO:congruent LiNbO3, ordinary | 1550 | 21 | 2.20820 | 2.20843 | +2.3e-4 | 2e-3 | Zelmon et al. 1997 corrected MgO5 n_o; independent model |
Coefficients and grids: /api/v1/dispersion.json, 1 nm grids under /api/v1/grids/index/, refractiveindex.info YAML per model. QPM periods from these models: phase matching.