The nonlinear refractive indices and nonlinear third-order susceptibilities of quadratic crystals

The third-order nonlinear susceptibilities and nonlinear refractive indices of KDP, BBO, and LiNbO3 crystals at wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm arc measured using the Z-scan technique. The measurements are made for different energies of incident radiation and different focusing condition sand crystal lengths. It is found that, as the angle between the light beam and the principal optic axis of a KDP crystal increases, the nonlinearity drops, with its magnitude at a wavelength of 1064 nm being higher than at 532 nm. For a BBO crystal. the nonlinearity dispersion is normal. The mechanisms of nonlinear losses in KDP, BBO, and LiNbO3 crystals are identified. The values of the nonlinear susceptibilities thus obtained are analyzed and compared with the results of calculations based on an empirical model and with the data of other authors. (C) 2003 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".