Nonlinear Crystals

Nonlinear optics (NLO) is a branch of optics that describes the behavior of light in a nonlinear medium. NLO crystals are employed in a wide range of nonlinear parametric applications, such as optical parametric amplification, differential frequency generation, and second harmonic generation. To employ a crystal for a particular application, the appropriate crystal must be chosen. In addition to transparency over the appropriate spectral range, it should also have high nonlinear coefficients, a high optical damage threshold, and enough birefringence for phase matching.

For basic, applied research, and industrial applications, Alfa Chemistry provides a variety of NLO crystals, such as lithium triborate (LBO), barium beta borate (BBO), potassium oxytitanium phosphate (KTP), potassium oxytitanium arsenate (KTA), potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium dideuterium phosphate (KDP and DKDP), lithium iodate (LiIO3), lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystals and infrared nonlinear optical crystals.

Selection of NLO Crystals

For uses like nonlinear frequency conversion, NLO crystals may have a variety of significant properties.

• The nonlinear tensor component and the phase matching setup are what determine the size of the effective nonlinear coefficient deff.
• The likelihood of phase matching, the bandwidth for phase matching, angular acceptance, etc. are all governed by the dispersion and birefringence features.
• For all relevant wavelengths, the crystal material should generally have good optical transparency.