WAVELENGTH CONVERSION ELEMENT CONSISTING OF LITHIUM TANTALATE SINGLE CRYSTAL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wavelength conversion element consisting of lithium tantalate single crystal which maintains a characteristic similar to that of a lithium tantalate single crystal of a perfect stoichiometric composition even when having a nonstoichiometric defect. SOLUTION: The wavelength conversion element consists of the lithium tantalate single crystal which converts the wavelength of a laser beam made incident on the lithium tantalate single crystal having a periodically polarization-reversed structure into a shorter wavelength or a longer wavelength according to quasi phase matching on the basis of the periodically polarization-reversed structure, wherein the lithium tantalate single crystal contains at least one selected from the group of Mg, Zn, Sc and In by 0.1 to 3.0 mol%, the molar fraction of Li2O/(Ta2O5+Li2O) in the lithium tantalate single crystal is within a range of at least 0.490 and less than 0.500 and application voltage required for performing polarization inversion of the lithium tantalate single crystal at a room temperature is less than 3.5 kV/mm. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT