Influence of gamma and proton radiations on the absorption, photoluminescence and birefringence of lithium niobate single crystals doped with Cu, Fe and Cr ions

The results of investigations of the influence of gamma and proton radiations on absorption, luminescence and birefringence of either pure or Cu, Fe and Cr doped LiNbO3 single crystals were presented. A method of birefringence dispersion testing on the entire areas of plane-parallel plates of LiNbO3 crystals has been illustrated by the influence of both types of irradiation on pure and Fe, Cr and Cu-doped LiNbO3 wafers. It was found that Li NbO3 LN:Cu single crystal shows a different behavior compared with other investigated crystals. First of all it exhibits lower susceptibility to gammarays, the absence of 500 nm additional absorption, and a strong proton susceptibility observed in polarimeter measurements.