Growth, nonlinear optical and self-frequency-doubled properties of LaGdCOB and Nd:LaGdCOB single crystals

High optical quality La0.09Gd0.91Ca4O(BO3)(3) and Nd0.03La0.08Gd0.89Ca4O(BO3)(3) crystals, grown by Czo-chralski (Cz) pulling method, were investigated for their nonlinear optical (NLO) and laser properties. These crystals were found to possess moderate birefringence (0.0320 at 1064 nm), wide transparency (320-2300 nm) and large effective nonlinear effects (d(eff) similar to 1.2 pm/V), which were suitable for green laser generation. The second-harmonic-generation (SHG) phase matching (PM) properties, including PM curve, deff, angular acceptance and walk-off angle were investigated. Both of the calculations and experiments have indicated that the 1064 nm optimum PM direction which has maximum d(eff) (similar to 1.2 pm/V) and SHG conversion efficiency (57.1%) locate in the second octant, i.e. (113.5 degrees, 48.6 degrees). Pumped by the 0.8 mu m AlGaAs laser diodes (LD), the self-frequency-doubling (SFD) performance of Nd0.03La0.08Gd0.89Ca4O(BO3)(3) crystal was evaluated, where as much as 115 mWgreen light at 546 nm was obtained with a (113 degrees, 48.9 degrees)-cut, 6 mm long and uncoated Nd0.03La0.08Gd0.89Ca4O(BO3)(3) sample. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.