Broadband characterization of congruent lithium niobate from mHz to optical frequencies

Lithium niobate (LiNbO3) is a well known uniaxial ferroelectric material. Using impedance measurement, quasi-optical free-space characterization, THz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and ellipsometry, its dielectric permittivity/refractive index was characterized depending on the crystal orientation over a broad frequency range: 1 mHz to 1 PHz (lambda = 300 nm). Three different frequency ranges, separated by well identified resonances, are observed: low frequency 'free-piezoelectric' response, intermediate frequency 'clamped-ionic' response and high frequency 'electronic' response. These features are discussed with an emphasis on the role of the crystallographic structure and piezoelectric response.