An optical study of the stretching absorption band near 3 microns from OH- defects in LiNbO3

A near infrared absorption band (λ = 2.87 μ), identified as the 0–1 stretching vibrational band of OH^- defects in LiNbO₃, has been observed at 6, 77, and 300 K. This band was completely polarized perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis within experimental error and two peaks, separated by approximately 13 cm^?1, were resolved. Both the structure and optical anisotropy of this band were independent of stoichiometry and sample treatments and may be understood in terms of a simple model where protons are captured by O^2- anions forming OH^- defects whose orientations are determined by neighboring O^2- ions.