NONCRITICAL PHASE-MATCHING AND PHOTOREFRACTIVE DAMAGE IN SC2O3-LINBO3

The noncritical phase-matching temperature, T(pm), of Sc2O3-doped LiNb O3 was measured as a function of SC2O3 concentration (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, a nd 1.5 mol % SC2O3). Increasing the Sc2O3 concentration increased the phase-matching temperature, but to a lesser extent than reported in Mg O:LiNbO3. The maximum phase-matching temperature was 46.5-degrees-C in the 1.0 mol % SC2O3:LiNbO3 crystal with an estimated temperature band width of 1-degrees cm. Photorefractive damage, determined by distortio n in the transmitted beam, decreased with increasing Sc concentration, reaching a damage level comparable to that observed in 5.0 mol % MgO: LiNbO3 CryStal in the 1.5 Mol % SC2O3:LiNbO3 crystal.