Magnetic and optical phenomena in nonlinear optical crystals ZnGeP2 and CdGeP2

Abstract

One of the top efficient nonlinear optical crystals, ZnGeP2, is being used at present in parametric oscillators and second-harmonic and combination frequency generators for the mid-IR spectral range. Until recently, this crystal has not been thought of as a magnetic medium, and strong magnetic phenomena were assumed to not occur in it. The recent discovery of a new magnetically ordered state in ZnGeP2 and CdGeP2 single crystals and films doped with Mn shows that this material exhibits ferromagnetic phenomena and, if deposited on a host nonlinear single crystal, can be considered a promising magneto-optical medium. We report on nonlinear parameters of undoped and doped ZnGeP2 and current data on magnetic phenomena in (Zn,Mn)GeP2 and (Cd,Mn)GeP2 ferromagnetic layers and doped ZnGeP2:Mn single crystals. Stabilizing a heterosystem constituted by ferromagnetic layers on a nonmagnetic nonlinear crystal extends the scope of possible designs of magneto-optical, spin-dependent, and magnetically controllable nonlinear optical devices. copy 2005 Optical Society of America