Inhomogeneous and homogeneous broadening in Pr³⁺- and Er³⁺-doped lithium niobate

Congruent lithium niobate has a disordered, lithium-deficient structure. This article discusses the investigation of the role of disorder in lithium niobate by measuring both the inhomogeneous and homogeneous broadening of optical transitions in Pr3+ and Er3+ doped lithium niobate where the rare-earth ions are generally accepted to substitute for Li+ ions in sites of nominally C3 symmetry.