Stoichiometric LiNbO3 single-crystal fibers for nonlinear optical applications

Abstract A vapor transport equilibration technique has been used to improve the homogeneity and adjust the Li/Nb ratio in small LiNbO 3 single crystal rods and fibers grown by the laser heated pedestal growth method. When equilibrated with a Li-rich powder, containing a mixture of LiNbO 3 and Li 3 NbO 4 , crystal of stoichiometric composition can be obtained. This treatment was used to raise the phase-matching temperature of congruent LiNbO 3 for second harmonic generation of 1064 nm radiation from 4 to 238°C. The 238°C phase-matching temperature is above the annealing temperature for photorefractive damage. This property, along with the good optical homogeneity, should allow efficient conversion of CW laser sources. We also, for the first time, demonstrated the doubling of 954 nm radiation in a LiNbO 3 crystal.

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