Noncritically phase-matched frequency conversion in Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca(4)O(BO(3))(3) crystal

Crystal growth, optical, thermal and piezoelectric properties of HoCa4O(BO3)3 crystal

High-quality crystals of HoCa4O(BO3)3 were grown by the Czochralski method. The optical, thermal and piezoelectric properties were investigated.

Temperature bandwidth of second-harmonic-generation in GdCOB crystal

The temperature bandwidth of the second harmonic generation (SHG) phase-matching process was investigated for the GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (GdCOB) crystal. GdCOB exhibits a much broader temperature bandwidth in comparison with many familiar nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. For a fundamental wave of 1,064 nm, the maximum temperature bandwidth appeared at (θ=135°, ϕ=47.3°), as predicted by the theoretical calculation and demonstrated by the SHG experiments. The GdCOB crystal is a good candidate for NLO frequency conversions under extreme temperatures.

Angular non-critical phase-matching second-harmonic-generation characteristics of RECOB (RE = Tm, Y, Gd, Sm, Nd and La) crystals

For the first time, the angular non-critical phase-matching (A-NCPM) second-harmonic-generation (SHG) characteristics of a family of monoclinic oxoborate crystals, RECa₄O(BO₃)₃ (RECOB, RE = Tm, Y, Gd, Sm, Nd and La), were comprehensively investigated. For all of the realizable A-NCPM SHG styles, the feature parameters including PM wavelength, angular, wavelength and temperature acceptance bandwidths, have been derived from the theory and verified by the experiments. We discovered that the closer the ion radius between RE³⁺ and Ca²⁺, the smaller the birefringence, and the better the A-NCPM SHG properties. As a result, for the Type-I SHG on Y-axis which has the largest effective nonlinear optical coefficient (d_eff) among the three realizable A-NCPM styles, NdCOB crystal presents the longest PM wavelength (927 nm), the largest angular acceptance bandwidth (Δθ⋅l^1/2 = 84.3 mrad·cm^1/2, Δϕ⋅l^1/2 = 58.8 mrad·cm^1/2), and the broadest wavelength acceptance bandwidth (8.7 nm). This discovery will contribute to the design of new NCPM materials, at the same time the parameter formula will be helpful for the theoretical prediction of NCPM performance.

Type-II second-harmonic-generation properties of YCOB and GdCOB single crystals

As excellent nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals, YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (YCOB) and GdCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (GdCOB) have been paid much attention since their first appearance in 1990's. From that time to now, almost all of related researches and applications have focused on their type-I phase-matching (PM) configurations which possess large effective NLO coefficient (d(eff)). In this paper, type-II second-harmonic-generation (SHG) properties of these two crystals are reported, including PM curve, d(eff), angular acceptance and walk-off angle. Both of the type-II SHG experiments for 1064 and 1320 nm have indicated that the optimum directions which have maximum d(eff) locate in the second octant, i.e. (90° < θ< 180°, 0° < ϕ < 90°). For a (112°, 81.3°)-cut, 24 mm long YCOB crystal, the largest type-II SHG conversion efficiency of a 1064 nm Nd:YAG pico-second laser is 55%, which reaches the same level of the optimum type-I sample. To our knowledge this is the first time that type-II SHG performance of YCOB and GdCOB crystals is investigated intensively. Our research has shown that the smaller d(eff) of type-II PM can be compensated by its larger angular acceptance and less beam walk-off. The same level SHG conversion efficiency implies for such type crystals the type-II components have the potential to replace type-I ones and obtain important NLO applications in the future.

Generation of crystal-structure transverse patterns via a self-frequency-doubling laser

Two-dimensional (2D) visible crystal-structure patterns analogous to the quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) have been experimentally observed in the near- and far-fields of a self-frequency-doubling (SFD) microchip laser. Different with the fundamental modes, the localization of the SFD light is changed with the propagation. Calculation based on Hermite-Gaussian (HG) functions and second harmonic generation theory reproduces well the patterns both in the near- and far-field which correspond to the intensity distribution in coordinate and momentum spaces, respectively. Considering the analogy of wave functions of the transverse HG mode and 2D harmonic oscillator, we propose that the simple monolithic SFD lasers can be used for developing of new materials and devices and testing 2D quantum mechanical theories.

Widely tunable and high-average-power fourth-harmonic generation of a Ti:sapphire laser with a KBe2BO3F2 prism-coupled device

Using a KBe(2)BO(3)F(2) prism-coupled device, we have realized the high-average-power output in the wide range from 170 to 232.5 nm by second-harmonic generation of a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser. The output power in the UV from 175 to 232.5 nm exceeds 2 mW, the highest power being 119.8 mW at 202.5 nm. Moreover, tunable output powers above 100 mW have also been obtained for deep-UV light from 193.5 to 200 nm.

Temperature phase-matching properties for harmonic generation in GdCa4O(BO3)3 and Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca4O(BO3)3

GdCa4O(BO3)3 has been found to have phase-matching points where the temperature variations of the phase-matching angles become zero for type-1 sum-frequency generation in the zx plane. We also found that the temperature sensitivities of the phase-matching conditions in the zx plane are different along the phi = 0 degrees and phi = 180 degrees directions in this material. In addition, the thermo-optic dispersion formula of this material that reproduces the temperature phase-matching properties of GdCa4O(BO3)3 and Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca4O(BO3)3 is presented.

Monolithic wavelength converter for ultraviolet light by use of a Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca4O(BO3)3 crystal

Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca4O(BO3)3 (GdYCOB) is a promising nonlinear optical crystal that shows high effective nonlinearity d(eff), noncritical phase matching, and high chemical stability. We report on the fabrication and characteristics of a monolithic wavelength converter, which generates ultraviolet light by the incidence of a 1.064 microm near-infrared laser. The converter consists of GdYCOB for third-harmonic generation, KTiOPO4 (KTP) for second-harmonic generation, and a wave plate. GdYCOB has the advantage of an extremely wide angular acceptance bandwidth, whereas KTP exhibits a high effective nonlinear coefficient and a broad temperature bandwidth. Consequently the combination of these crystals results in highly efficient and stable ultraviolet conversion for constructing a compact and robust ultraviolet laser.

Alleviation of photoinduced damage in GdxY1-xCa4O(BO3)3 at elevated crystal temperature for noncritically phase-matched 355-nm generation

We developed a Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca(4)O(BO(3))(3) (GdYCOB) crystal for control of optical birefringence. GdYCOB crystals were successfully used to generate noncritical phase-matched (NCPM) second and third harmonics of 1064-nm lights. However, we observed degradation of third-harmonic-generation (THG) output power and distortion of the beam pattern as a result of photoinduced damage and thermal dephasing. The photoinduced damage was classified into two types. One was gray-track and the other was photorefractive damage. It seems that these types of damage were similar to the types of damage that occurred with KTiOPO(4) and LiNbO(3) crystals. We tried to circumvent this problem by crystal heating. Photoinduced damage of GdYCOB was overcome by elevation of the crystal temperature, and NCPM THG (355-nm) output power from heated GdYCOB increased to 9 mW (62.5 kHz).