PROCESS FOR REDUCING DAMAGE SUSCEPTIBILITY IN OPTICAL-QUALITY CRYSTALS

摘要

A process is disclosed for treating a crystal of MTiOXO4 (wherein M is selected from the group consisting of K, Rb, Tl and NH4 and mixtures thereof and X is selected from the group consisting of P and As and mixtures thereof) which has crystal structure deficiencies of M throughout the crystal, by immersing the crystal in molten salt consisting essentially of at least one low melting salt of one or more monovalent cations selected from the group consisting of Rb<+>, K<+>, Cs<+> and Tl<+> for a time sufficient to decrease the optical damage susceptibility throughout the crystal.