Simulated pressure-induced blue-shift of phase-matching region and nonlinear optical mechanism for K3B6O10X (X = Cl, Br)

Abstract

Birefringence plays a great role in phase matching of the nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. Small birefringence restricts various crystals from achieving deep-ultraviolet laser output although they exhibit short UV cutoff edges and high second-harmonic generation (SHG) intensities. An access to achieve deeper coherent light output through external pressure on NLO crystal, K3B6O10Cl is proposed and demonstrated through computer experiment based on the first principles theory. The “hot spot” in structure that determine the SHG effects and birefringence were highlighted. The shortest achievable phase-matching wavelengths are predicted based on calculated refractive indices. It is found that the quasi-planar (B6O10)2− group is the dominant contributing unit to optical anisotropy. The pressure-induced increase of polarizability anisotropy of (B6O10)2− group can notably enlarge birefringence which extends the shortest achievable wavelength of K3B6O10Cl frequency conversion. The results show that pressure engineering may be a promising scheme to overcome the drawback of small birefringence of some NLO crystals.