Interferometric measurement of the pyroelectric coefficient in lithium niobate

We report the measurement of pyroelectric field in LiNbO3 by introducing a new method, based on optical interferometry. The pyroelectric coefficient of the congruent LiNbO3 crystals has been determined by this method and the value obtained for it, ∼95 μC/(m2 · K), is consistent with previous results reported in literature, obtained by other methods.