MgO:LiNbO₃ crystal is widely used for high power frequency doubling(SHG), mixing(SFG) and optical parameter oscillator(OPO). MgO:LiNbO₃ has similar effective nonlinear coefficients as pure LiNbO₃. But it has the advantages such as high damage threshold (over 5 GW/cm² @ 1064 nm, 12ns), noncritical phase matching (NCPM) at room temperature, excellent E-O and NLO properties, good mechanical and chemical properties compared with pure LiNbO₃.

Its Sellmeier equations (7 mol% MgO doping) are:

n_o² = 4.8762+0.115540/(l²-0.04674)-0.033119l² (l in mm)

n_e² = 4.5469+0.094779/(l²-0.04439)-0.026721l²

Over 45% and 60% of SHG efficient are obtained in pulsed and cw Nd:YAG lasers respectively, by angle tuned phase matchable SHG of Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and NCPM SHG of laser lasers (1053 nm) of MgO:LiNbO₃ at room temperature. MgO:LiNbO₃ is also a good crystal for high power quasi-phase-matched waveguide structure for doubler, optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and amplifier (OPA).