Growth and optical properties of nonlinear LuAl_3(BO_3)_4 crystals

Abstract

The optical properties of pure LuAl(3)(BO(3))(4) (abbreviated as LuAB) crystals were investigated for the first time. Large UV-transparent LuAl(3)(BO(3))(4) crystals were grown by a high-temperature top-seeding method with Li(2)WO(4)O(7)-B(2)O(3) as the flux. The refractive indices of LuAl(3)(BO(3))(4) at several wavelengths covering ultraviolet-visible and near-infrared regions were measured by the auto-collimation method. The parameters of Sellmeier's dispersion equation were determined from the experimental data. The phase-matching curve of second harmonic generation was measured. The nonlinear optical coefficient d(11) of LuAB crystal was determined to be 1.10 pm/V by a phase-matching method. The UV cut-off wavelength of the LuAl(3)(BO(3))(4) crystal was shorter than 190 nm.

Synthesis and crystal structures of novel alkali rare-earth orthoborates K3RE3(BO3)4 (RE = Pr, Nd, Sm–Lu)

“…[3,4] is one of the most useful orthoborates as a fast decay scintillator; light yields of the polycrystalline present around three times than that of the commercial Bi 4 Ge 3 O 12 (BGO) scintillators. Some rare-earth borates exhibit promising nonlinear optical (NLO) properties such as La x Y y Sc 4-x-y (BO 3 ) 4 [5], Ca 4 REO(BO 3 ) 3 (RE = La, Gd, Y) [6], Cd 4-REO(BO 3 ) 3 (RE = La, Gd and Y) [7], REAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4 (RE = Y, Gd, Lu) [8][9][10] and K 7 MRE 2 (B 5 O 10 ) 3 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Pb; RE = Sc, Y, Gd, Lu) [11,12]. Rare-earth borates are also suitable candidates to host optically active Er 3? and Yb 3? cations to serve as laser crystals [13,14] and self-frequency doubling crystals [15,16].…”

K6ACaSc2(B5O10)3 (A = Li, Na, Li0.7Na0.3): Nonlinear-Optical Materials with Short UV Cutoff Edges

“…To further explore new UV NLO materials, much attention has been paid to the rare-earth borate system. − Because the rare-earth ions with closed-shell electron configurations, i.e., Sc 3+ , Y 3+ , La 3+ , and Lu 3+ , have no f–f or d–d electronic transitions, the corresponding rare-earth borates are expected to possess high optical transmission in the UV region. As an example, the derivatives of huntite Lu 0.66 La 0.95 Sc 2.39 (BO 3 ) 4 and Y 0.57 La 0.72 Sc 2.71 (BO 3 ) 4 were both reported to exhibit a short λ cutoff value of approximately 190 nm and possess the large second-harmonic-generation (SHG) coefficients d 11 of 1.74 and 1.70 pm/V, respectively. − Besides the mixed rare-earth metal borates, the ternary alkali- or alkaline-earth-metal rare-earth borates, i.e., A 2 O/AeO–RE 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 (A = alkali metal, Ae = alkaline-earth metal, and RE = rare earth), have also been well studied, which produces a series of new structure types and a few promising UV NLO crystals.…”

Flux growth and laser-related spectroscopic properties of (Er,Yb):LuAl3(BO3)4crystals

“…Of this borate family, the LuAl 3 (BO 3 ) 4 (LuAB) crystal was mainly studied as a host material for laser applications with Yb 3+ and Er 3+ dopants, and there are only a few reports on the crystal growth, thermal and optical properties of the (Er, Yb):LuAB crystal. [10][11][12] In particular, Yb x Er y Lu 1−x−y Al 3 (BO 3 ) 4 (x = 0-0.2 and y = 0-0.02) solid solutions can be used as the most attractive solid-state matrices for lasing in the eye-safe 1500 nm spectral range.…”