Growth and optical properties of UV transparent YAB crystals

Abstract

Large and ultraviolet (UV) transparent YAl3(BO3)4 (YAB) crystals were grown by a high temperature top seeding method with Li2B4O7–AlBO3 as the flux. The UV cutoff wavelength of the YAB crystal was shorter than 190 nm. The refractive indices of the YAB at several wavelengths covering UV–visible and near infrared wavelength over the temperature range from 30 to 170°C were measured by the autocollimation method. The parameters of the Sellmeier dispersion equation were determined based on the experimental data. The phase matching curve of second harmonic generation was measured. The deviations of the phase matching angle for second harmonic generation at 473 nm as a function of temperature for the YAB crystals were investigated. The coefficient of frequency doubling d11 of the YAB crystal was measured to be 1·30 pm V−1 by a phase matching method.