Phase-matched second harmonic blue light generation in ion implanted KNbO3 planar waveguides with 29% conversion efficiency

We report for the first time to our knowledge, noncritical phase-matched second harmonic generation in an ion-implanted KNbO₃ planar waveguide. The guided TM₀ mode of the fundamental wave (868 nm) is converted into the second harmonic TE₁ mode (434 nm). From 1.3 kW of internal fundamental peak power 385 W second harmonic blue light is generated giving a conversion efficiency of 29%. A comparison of the measured and the theoretical efficiencies implies that phase-matching is achieved over the full waveguide length. Based on these first experimental results we estimate that 100 mW of blue light can be generated from 400 mW of input power using an optimized KNbO₃ planar waveguide of 1 cm length.     

The ferroelectric mode in orthorhombic KNbO3

Both Raman scattering and infrared reflectivity measurements have been performed to determine the complete optic mode spectrum of orthorhombic KNbO₃ and characterize the ferroelectric modes. The low frequency, k ～ 0 mode is quasitransverse and possesses a spacial anisotropy similar to the TA branch at finite k. Of the original cubic ferroelectric mode, the component along the remaining soft direction is found at 56 cm^-1 and not overdamped (Γ/ω = 1), while the other two components have stiffened equally so that the mode is essentially isotropic in the orthogonal polarizations.     

Blue light generation in single-pass frequency doubling of femtosecond pulses in KNbO3

We study the generation of blue light in single-pass frequency doubling of femtosecond pulses in a thick KNbO₃ crystal. Depending on the input IR power, the maximum amount of generated blue light is a function of the position of the nonlinear crystal relative to the focusing lens. At certain focusing distance, the efficiency of blue light generation is substantially degraded. The issue of beam quality of the generated blue light is discussed.     

Raman study of phase transitions in KNbO3

The influence of grain size on the phase transitions of ferroelectric KNbO₃ was studied by micro Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the three transitions observed are not sharp for small particles (∼50 μm), indicating that they do not behave like bulk particles. The transition temperatures depend on the size and all particles show hysteresis. From these experiments we have obtained some evidence that in small particles monodomains of the rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases coexist in a range of temperatures.     

Achromatic multibeam coupling in KNbO3: Rb

We examine, both theoretically and experimentally, photorefractive coupling in KNbO₃: Rb with beams at several wavelengths in a dual grating achromatic arrangement. It is shown that, at normal incidence, the coupling gain in the multi-wavelength achromatic configuration is nearly equal to the gain of two beam coupling with a monochromatic source of the same intensity. The dependence of the achromatic gain on the angle between the bisector, of the pump and signal beams, and the normal to the crystal surface is also studied.     

Persistence of tetragonal raman lines in cubic KNbO3

The temperature dependence of the vibrationnal modes in KNbO₃ around the cubic-tetragonal phase transition is studied by Raman scattering measurements. An unexpected intense spectrum is observed above the transition. In addition to broad bands probably due to second order process, it consists of forbidden lines which are characteristic of the tetragonal phase. In particular the presence of the hard component of the soft ferroelectric cubic mode until 30° above T_c can be attributed to the existence of a precursor order near the transition.     

Optical anisotropy of LiNbO3 and KNbO3 in the interband transition region

The reflectivity of single domain crystals of LiNbO₃ and KNbO₃ has been measured using linearly polarized light up to 10 eV. The Kramers-Kronig analysis reveals a large anisotropy of the optical constants in the interband transition region. It is shown that the large electro-optic effects observed in these compounds are due to transitions in a relatively narrow spectral region above the band edge only.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Fe3+ in orthorhombic KNbO3

EPR spectra of KNbO₃:Fe single crystals are obtained in the - 10–110°C temperature range. The angular dependence of resonant lines is well reproduced by spin Hamiltonian parameters relevant to a Fe³⁺ impurity ion substituted to Nb ion in KNbO₃ crystal. The temperature behaviour of resonant lines is explained by a quadratic dependence of axial parameter D vs polarization P_s of the form D = βP²_s in the orthorhombic phase.     

Surface second-harmonic generation based on periodically poled LiNbO3 nonlinear optical crystal

We have generated a second-harmonic generation(SHG) of a Q-switched microchip Nd:YAG laser on the surface of a periodically poled LiNbO3(PPLN) nonlinear crystal near the grazing incidence angle.Three individual SHG waves as transmitted homogeneous,inhomogeneous and reflected radiations have been generated and their intensities are measured and characterized within a desirable range of about 10 different incidence angles of the Nd:YAG laser as pump source on the PPLN surface.The basic of surface nonlinear radiation is also investigated and similar results are calculated and extracted from the theory.Comparison between calculated and measured data shows that they are in good agreement with each other.     

Investigation on intracavity second-harmonic generation of a new Li-doped GdCa4O(BO3)3 crystal

Efficient intracavity second-harmonic generation (SHG) has been realized in a new Li-doped GdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (GdCOB) crystal. 2.55 W CW SHG output power was obtained with an optical conversion efficiency of 19.6%, while the effective intracavity SHG efficiency was determined to be 44%. Compared to that of undoped GdCOB crystal, the effective SHG efficiency of the Li-doped GdCOB crystal was found to increase by 12.5%.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Fe3+ in KNbO3 at 300 K

In the orthorhombic phase of KnbO₃ an EPR spectrum of Fe³⁺ substitutional for Nb⁵⁺ has been observed with the main axis parallel to the pseudocubic one of the orthorhombic phase. The cubic parameter a is very close to the one in BaTiO₃. A second spectrum probably due to local charge compensation is also reported.     

Phase-matched second-harmonic generation at 440 nm in a LiNbO3 -Gd3Ga5O12 waveguide with a tunable stimulated Raman source

Using a tunable stimulated Raman source, we have observed second-harmonic generation in the blue in a sputtered LiNbO₃ film deposited on Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂. With the choice of Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ as a substrate, it becomes possible to both phase-match a large range of fundamental wavelengths as well as have an excellent epitaxial quality surface. The SHG efficiency for the TM^ω₀ → TM^2ω₂ phase matched conversion process is estimated to be ～ 10^-4.     

Light scattering by polariton modes of KNbO3 in orthorhombic phase

The polariton modes of A₁, B₁ and B₂ species in biaxial KNbO₃ are observed by near forward Raman scattering. The oscillator strengths and dielectric constants along the principal axes are determined from the polariton dispersion. The mode assignments of each species are also discussed.     

Raman spectroscopy of the orthorombic-rombohedral structural transition in ferroelectric KNbO3

We report the low frequency Raman behaviour of KNbO₃ at the orthorombic-rombohedral structural transition. Our measurements suggest that the 50 cm^?1 quasimode peak may be attributed to the one phonon density of states triggered to a second order event by a slow fluctuation.     

Actively Q-switched intracavity second-harmonic generation of 1.06 μm in BiB3O6 crystal

We have investigated the acousto-optically Q-switched intracavity second-harmonic generation of 1.06 μm in a 1.9-mm-long BiB₃O₆ crystal, cut for type-I phase-matching direction of (θ,)=(168.9°,90°), performed in a diode-end-pumped Nd:YVO₄ laser. When the incident pump power was 4.3 W at 30 kHz of pulse repetition frequency, a maximum average green output power of 480 mW, the shortest pulse with FWHM width of 72 ns, the highest single pulse energy of 16 μJ and the maximum peak power of 222 W were obtained, giving the corresponding optical conversion efficiency of 11.2%. The effect of varying temperature in BIBO crystal on the average green output power was also investigated.     

High electric-field-induced strain of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 crystals in multilayer actuators

An optimum composition range (29%≤x≤31%) of 〈001〉 oriented (1−x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃(PMNT) crystals was ascertained for multilayer actuator applications, which exhibited high-strain and low-hysteresis behavior. A −1.5 kV/cm negative E-field can be applied to PMNT ferroelectric samples with low hysteresis. Forty layer actuators with individual element sizes of 7×7×0.7 mm³ were fabricated under identical processing conditions using two different materials: (1) single crystal PMNT and (2) commercial PZT-SF ceramics. Under free-load conditions, 48 μm displacements can been achieved in PMNT actuators at electric fields ranging from −1.5 to 10 kV/cm, which is more than twice the displacement of the PZT-SF actuators driven from −10 to 10 kV/cm. Under 4 kg loading, the displacements in PMNT stain actuators are decreased to 42.5 μm.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of polaron optical properties in KNbO3 perovskite

Time-resolved absorption and luminescence spectra have been measured in KNbO₃ perovskite crystals after pulsed band-gap excitation by 200 fs laser pulses and 10 ns electron pulses. Quantum chemical calculations using the large unit cell periodic model support the interpretation of the observed transient absorption bands at 0.8 and 1.1 eV as the self-trapped electron polarons and bound hole polarons, respectively. The activation energy for the 2.2 eV green luminescence quenching is 0.05 eV. We suggest that the short lifetime (<15 ns) of the luminescence at RT is caused by the radiative recombination of nearest electron and hole polarons.     

Theoretical design and experimental study of hydrothermal synthesis of KNbO3

In the framework of the Lencka-Riman thermodynamic model, we give a theoretical design for the hydrothermal synthesis of pure KNbO₃ powder in a K-Nb-O tri-component system, where the stability yield diagrams and the optimum conditions (i.e., synthesis temperature, precursor concentrations, solution pH) are provided. Additionally, a hydrothermal experiment is carried out to synthesize KNbO₃ powder by reacting niobium pentoxide with potassium hydroxide at a temperature above 523 K and highly alkaline conditions. It is found that the experiment is in great agreement with the theoretical design. This research shows that the newly developed Lencka-Riman model is a powerful theoretical tool for designing hydrothermal synthesis of new materials.     

Heats of solution/substitution in TlNO3 and CsNO3 crystals and in RbNO3 and CsNO3 crystals from heats of transition: the complete phase diagrams of TlNO3-CsNO3 and RbNO3-CsNO3 systems

From measurements of the decrease in the heat (enthalpy) of transition in the solid phase using differential scanning calorimetry, the apparent molar heats of solution, slope ΔH_t/x, the partial molar heats of solution at infinite dilution, χ, and the heats of solution, ΔH_s^°, of Tl⁺ in CsNO₃ crystal and Cs⁺ in TlNO₃ crystal and Rb⁺ in CsNO₃ crystal and Cs⁺ in RbNO₃ crystal along with their recovered lattice energies, ΔH_L^°, are reported. ΔH_s^° of Tl⁺ and Rb⁺ in CsNO₃ crystal are each found to be negligible or zero representing an ideal solid solution, i.e. ΔH_mix=0. The complete phase diagrams of the TlNO₃-CsNO₃ and RbNO₃-CsNO₃ systems with details of the sub-solidus regions are included. The properties of Tl_(1−x)Cs_xNO₃ and Rb_(1−x)Cs_xNO₃ compositions are discussed in terms of a ‘mixed crystal’ or ‘crystalline solid solution’ in relation to parallel compositions of Tl_(1−x)Rb_xNO₃.     

Transverse second-harmonic generation from disordered nonlinear crystals

We investigate the transverse second-harmonic generation in as grown strontium barium niobate (SBN) crystals with a random structure of anti-parallel ferroelectric domains. We consider both, single and counter-propagating pulse geometries. We investigate polarization properties of the second harmonic signal and discuss applications of this process for short pulses characterization. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Applications, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujście, Poland