Growth and characterization of SmxY1−xCa4O(BO3)3 single crystals for nonlinear optical applications

Abstract

YCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (YCOB) is a good candidate nonlinear optical crystal for optical parametric chirped-pulse application. In order to generate the suitable absorption of idler light near 1588 nm, Sm³⁺ ions with various concentrations are doped into YCOB crystals. Sm_xY_1−xCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (x = 0.05, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1) crystals of high quality have been grown by the Czochralski method. The X-ray powder diffraction, high resolution X-ray diffraction, ICP-AES, density, absorption spectra, specific heat and thermal diffusion coefficient of as-grown crystals were measured. The results show that the as-grown crystals are isostructural with YCOB; the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the rocking curve of the wafers with different Sm³⁺ concentrations are all lower than 30′′; the effective segregation coefficient of Sm³⁺ ion in this crystal is 0.773 with a Sm concentration of 5 at%; the crystals have absorption peaks in the 1400–1600 nm range.