Top-seeded solution growth of CLBO crystals

CsLiB 6 O 10 (CLBO) is a highly promising nonlinear optical material. However, its application is limited due to the difficulties in producing optically uniform CLBO crystals. High viscosity of Cs 2 O-Li 2 O-B 2 O 3 melt retards both natural and forced convection in the melt. With the goal to improve the heat and mass transfer in the melt, the study of crystallization in the Cs 2 O-Li 2 O- B 2 O 3 -MoO 3 system was carried out. The CLBO crystals 60 X 40 X 20 mm in size grown using LiCsMoO 4 as a solvent were found to be free of cracks, bubbles, and inclusions. Nonlinear optical parameters and physical properties of those crystals turned out to be similar to those reported before. Mohs' hardness is 5.5, transparency window ranges from 0.18 to 2.7 micrometers , nonlinear coefficient is 1 pm/V, angular and spectral bandwidth of synchronism are 0.5 mrad-m and 0.1 nm-cm. The walk-off angle is 2 degree(s) at 0.53 micrometers . The nonlinear optical elements for the 4 th harmonic of Nd:YAG laser were fabricated and tested.