lithium niobate

Lithium niobate is a crystalline material with the chemical formula LiNbO₃. It is transparent, hard, and dense, resembling clear glass. This material is particularly useful for electro-optical applications due to its ability to change its refractive index in response to an applied electrical field, a phenomenon known as the Pockels effect. This property allows for the creation of electro-optical modulators used in laser communication systems to encode information onto laser beams.12

Additionally, lithium niobate exhibits piezoelectric properties, meaning it can convert radio-frequency (RF) input into acoustic waves or vice versa. Its large electromechanical coupling factors and low high-frequency losses make it efficient for these transducer applications, which are found in devices like radar, communication systems, and television receivers. Lithium niobate is also used in fiber optics and as a synthetic gemstone.21