Abstract
The applicability of $LiNbO_{3}$ as a substrate for fabrication of Ti-indiffused waveguide electro-optic devices is limited. Ti diffuses comparatively in congruently melting $LiNbO_{3}$; the Curie temperature of this material is too low to permit diffusion temperatures much above $1100^{\circ}C$ without the necessity of re-poling the crystal. Both of hese difficulties could be eliminated by incorporating certain dopants in $LiNbO_{3}$. Crystals of $LiNbO_{3}$ doped with Ti and Mg were grown and evaluated. The electroptic coefficients and birefringence of $LiNbO_{3}$ doped crystals were measured at ${\lambda}=.6328$ and $1.32\;$\mu{m}$. Curie temperatures were measured. The Curie temperature of both undoped and Ti-doped $LiNbO_{3}$ was $1130^{\circ}C$; that for Mg-doped $LiNbO_{3}$ was $30^{\circ}$ higher. From these data, a composition for the crystals was estimated. Thermogravimetric data confirmed this estimate and showed that the composition of Mg : $LiNbO_{3}$ was $49.3{\pm}0.2mole%\;Li_{2}O$ ; the composition of the undoped and Ti : $LiNbO_{3}$ samples was $48.6{\pm}0.2mole%$. Diffusion of Ti into both Mg-doped and Ti-doped $LiNbO_{3}$ crystals was studied as a function of $Li/NbO_{3}$ ratio and temperature.