Nonlinear optical crystals and their manufacture and use

摘要

Described are nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals, including aluminum-borate NLO crystals, that have low concentrations of contaminants that adversely affect the NLO crystal's optical properties, such as compounds that contain transition-metal elements and/or lanthanides, other than yttrium, lanthanum, and lutetium. Some NLO crystals with low concentrations of these contaminants are capable of second harmonic generation at very short wavelengths. Also described are embodiments of a method for making these NLO crystals. Some embodiments involve growing a single NLO crystal, such as an aluminum-borate NLO crystal, from a mixture containing a solvent that is substantially free of harmful contaminants. The described NLO crystals can be used, for example, in laser devices.

主权项

1. A nonlinear optical crystal for use with a laser to generate a laser beam, the nonlinear optical crystal having a formula (Y1-xLux)Al3(BO3)4 where X=0-1, a volume greater than about 0.1 mm3 and comprising less than about 100 ppm by weight of any element that inhibits the ability of the nonlinear optical crystal to generate and/or emit light at wavelengths less than about 300 nm.