Non-linear Optical Crystals from Photop-Optics

2 Jul 2009

We are pleased to announce the addition of a new range of Non-linear Optical (NLO) Crystals from Photop-Optics.

Photop can offer extremely competitive pricing on their home grown and fabricated BBO, KTP, LBO and Lithium Niobate (LiNbO₃) crystals. They use an improved Flux Growth Technology to grow their BBO, LBO and KTP Crystals, which was developed in co-operation with an institute.

BBO has wide transparency (190-3500nm) and phase matching (409.6-3500nm) ranges, large nonlinear coefficient, high damage threshold and excellent optical homogeneity. BBO therefore provides an attractive solution for various nonlinear optical applications. Photop can offer BBO in a variety of lengths and various apertures and coatings. Typical applications for BBO include second, third, fourth and fifth Nd:YAG harmonic generation, frequency doubling and tripling of ultra-short-pulse lasers such as femtosecond Ti:Sapphire, tripling and mixing of dye lasers, and also for use within OPA and OPO parametric sources.

Photop recently introduced LBO, which has a very wide acceptance angle (reducing the beam quality requirements for source lasers) and small walk-off angle compared to BBO. It is unique in many aspects, including its wide transparency range (160-2600nm), moderately high non-linear coupling, high damage threshold and good chemical and mechanical properties. It is used for second and third harmonic generation of high power lasers such as Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, Alexandrite, Ti:Sapphire, Dye Lasers.

KTP is a lower cost but extremely efficient NLO in the Visible to IR spectral region for lower power applications, with a wide angular bandwidth and small walk-off angle. Photop’s KTP crystals are manufactured using high purity chemicals and exhibit extremely low absorption at the fundamental and second harmonic generation wavelengths.

We can offer standard KTP and custom designed KTP crystals for a variety of applications, including frequency doubling (SHG) of Nd-doped lasers, parametric sources (OPA’s, OPO’s) for 600-4500nm tunable output, EO-modulators, and optical waveguides for integrated NLO devices.

LiNbO₃ is widely used as a frequency doubling medium for wavelengths >1µm, for OPO’s pumped at 1064nm as well as quasi-phase matched (QPM) devices. With a large Electro-Optic and Acousto-Optic coefficient, LiNbO₃ is the most commonly used material for pockels cells, Q-switches, phase modulators and waveguide substrates. In addition, Magnesium Oxide Doped LiNbO3 (MgO: LiNbO₃) exhibits distinct advantages for frequency doubling (SHG) with efficiencies as high as 65% and 45% using pulsed Nd:YAG and cw Nd:YAG lasers respectively. It is also a good crystal choice for OPO’s and OPA’s.

Photop continues to maintain its position as a world leader in growth and processing of NLO crystal components from its plant in Fuzhou, Fujian, China. Photop has developed improved flux growth technologies for numerous laser and NLO crystal materials, including recently developed BIBO (BiB₃O₆) for high efficiency diode pumped blue and green lasers, and KBBF for frequency doubling to deep UV wavelengths (e.g.157nm), and is developing CZ technology for further improvements to BBO and LBO crystals.

Adrian Piddington
T: 01582 764334
E: info@lambdaphoto.co.uk

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Non-linear Optical Crystals from Photop-Optics

2 Jul 2009

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