Fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical crystals and their growth and applications

Abstract

A fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical single crystal is represented by a molecular formula of MBeBOF, wherein M is Rb or Cs. The crystal can be grown by the flux method comprising the steps of mixing a fluoroberyllium borate compound and a flux in proportion, heating the mixture up to 750-800° C., keeping at this temperature and then cooling it to the temperature of 2-10° C. above the saturating point to obtain a fluoroberyllium borate solution at high temperature; putting the seed crystal fixed on the end of a crystal hanging bar into the fluoroberyllium borate solution at high temperature, rotating the crystal hanging bar, cooling the melt solution to its saturating point, then cooling it again slowly, pulling the obtained crystal out of the solution surface, cooling it to room temperature, then obtaining the present fluoroberyllium borate non-linear optical crystal. The crystal has nonlinear optical effect, broad transmittance wave and UV cut-off edge at 150 nm; neither deliquesces nor dissolves in dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute nitric acid; and has good chemical stability. The present crystal is applicable to the need of harmonic generations in the UV range and can be used to make nonlinear optical devices, achieve the output device for the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth harmonic generations of Nd:YAG laser. They can be also used in harmonic generation devices of other laser wavelength and to generate coherent light with wavelength at or less than 266 nm.