Yttrium Vanadate (YVO4) Crystal
The
yttrium orthovanadate (YVO4)
is a positive uniaxial crystal grown with Czochralski
method. It has good mechanical and physical properties
and is ideal for optical polarizing components because
of its wide transparency range and large birefringence.
It is an excellent synthetic substitute for Calcite
(CaCO3) and Rutile (TiO2)
crystals in many applications including fiber optic
isolators and circulators, beam displacers, Glan
polarizers and other polarizing optics, etc.
1.Basic Properties of YVO4 crystals
| Transparency
Range high transmittance from 0.4 to 5mm |
Transparency Curve of YVO4(Thickness=1mm) |
| Crystal
Symmetry Zircon Tetragonal, space group D4h |
|
| Crystal
Cell a=b=7.12 Å; c=6.29 Å |
|
| Density: 4.22 g/cm3 | |
| Hygroscopic Susceptibility: Non-hygroscopic | |
| Thermal
Expansion Coefficient aa = 4.43 x 10-6/K; ac = 11.37 x 10-6/K |
|
| Thermal
Conductivity Coefficient ||C: 5.23 W/m/K; ^ C: 5.10 W/m/K |
|
| Crystal Class: Positive uniaxial with no=na=nb, ne=nc | |
| Refractive
Indices, Birefringence (Dn
= ne - no) and Walk-off Angle
at 45º (r): no = 1. 9929, ne = 2.2154, Dn = 0.2225, r = 6.04 at 0.63 mm no = 1.9500, ne = 2.1554, Dn = 0.2054, r = 5.72 at 1.30 mm no = 1.9447, ne = 2.1486, Dn = 0.2039, r = 5.69 at 1.55 mm |
|
| Sellmeier
Equation (l in mm): no2= 3.77834 + 0.069736/(l2 - 0.04724) - 0.0108133l2 ne2=4.59905 + 0.110534/(l2 - 0.04813) - 0.0122676l2 |
|
| Thermal Optical Coefficient: dna/dT = 8.5x10-6/K; dnc/dT = 3.0x10-6/K | |
2.Comparation with other Birefringent crystals
- Compared to Calcite, YVO4 has better temperature stability and physical and mechnical properties. Calcite is hard to obtain high optical quality because of its low susceptibility to moisture and low hardness.
- Compared to Rutile (TiO2) which exhibits too high hardness, YVO4 is easier to be handled for optical surface processing that greatly reduces cost of fabrication, especially for batch production.
- Compared to LiNbO3, although they have similar mechanical and physical properties, YVO4 has more than three times larger birefringence, that makes your design more compact.
3.Applications of YVO4 Crystals
Following drawings are the simple demonstrations of how the YVO4 crystals are used in Fiber Optic Isolator, Beam Displacers and Circulators.
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CASIX unique advantages:
- Reliable OEM supplier: CASIX has the largest production line of YVO4 crystals in the world. We have capacity to fabricate up to 10,000 pieces of YVO4 components per month.
- Strong Technical Support: From crystals growth and fabrication to fiber optics design and applications, CASIX engineers always provide professional solution to customers. Come to CASIX, let our expertise serves you better.
- Quick Delivery: We offer a series of standard YVO4 components which are commonly used in fiber optics . They are available off-the-shelf.
- Special Products: Custom-made YVO4 components are welcome.
1. Birefringent Wedges for Fiber-Optic Isolators
Aperture |
1.0 x 1.0 mm2 to 2 x 2 mm2 |
![]() specifications |
Dimension tolerance |
+/-0.05mm |
|
Wedge Angle tolerance |
+/-15% |
|
Optical axis orientation |
+/-0.5° |
|
Flatness |
l/4 @ 632.8 nm |
|
Surface Quality |
20-10 |
|
AR-coating |
R<0.2% @1550nm |
Please refer to Birefringent Wedges for the standard products and price information.
Note: Other sizes and Coating are available upon request
2. YVO4
Beam Displacer
Dimension tolerance:± 0.05 x ± 0.05 x ± 0.1mm |
![]() Specifications |
Optical axis orientation: +/-0.5° |
|
Parallelism: <15 arc sec |
|
Perpendicularity: <10 arc min |
|
Flatness: l /4 @ 632.8 nm |
|
Surface Quality: 20-10 |
|
AR-coating: R<0.2% @ 1550 nm± 40 nm |
Note: Other sizes and specifications are available upon request
Standard Size
P/N |
Crystal |
Size |
q |
f |
d |
AR@ |
PBD3070 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x7mm |
45° |
0° |
0.70mm |
1550nm |
PBD3100 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x10mm |
45° |
0° |
1.00mm |
1550nm |
PBD3120 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x12mm |
45° |
0° |
1.20mm |
1550nm |
PBD3150 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x15mm | 45° |
0° |
1.50mm | 1550nm |
PBD3075 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x7mm |
45° |
45° |
0.70mm | 1550nm |
PBD3105 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x10mm |
45° |
45° |
1.00mm | 1550nm |
PBD3125 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x12mm |
45° |
45° |
1.20mm | 1550nm |
PBD3155 |
YVO4 |
2.6x2.6x15mm |
45° |
45° |
1.50mm | 1550nm |







