Crystal Growth,Thermal and Linear Optical Properties of LiGeBO4

The origin of reported twin domains of LiGeBO₄ was investigated by methods of thermal analysis. The twins were found to result from a phase transition which occurs 2‐3 K below the peritectic decomposition of the compound. Large single crystals of LiGeBO₄ were grown by an improved growth method using the top‐seeding technique. Linear optical properties (refractive indices between 404 nm and 2325 nm and unpolarized absorption spectrum) as a basis for nonlinear optical investigations were determined. Unfortunately, LiGeBO₄ is not phase matchable.