OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF L-ALANINE ORGANIC-CRYSTALS

This work reports on the optical properties of L-alanine crystals grow n from aqueous solution using the well-known slow evaporation method. Linear properties including absorption spectra and refractive indices are determined, as well as nonlinear properties of second harmonic gen eration (SHG), such as the phase-matching loci and efficiency. Althoug h the SHG efficiency is smaller than those of other known materials, t he study of L-alanine crystals is very important since it is part of m ore complex aminoacids including L-arginine and asparagine, with much higher SHG efficiency. Some mechanical properties are also presented, namely hardness and thermal expansion coefficients.