Rb ion-exchange profile in potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP)

The Rb depth profiles in KTP as a function of ion-exchange duration in rubi dium nitrate (RbNO3) melts with small concentrations of Ba(NO3)(2) in the m elt have been studied by using Rutherford backscattering (RBS). The data in dicate that small Ba concentrations have a major effect on the incorporatio n of Rb and its distribution in the KTP. The results also show the effect o f the Ba impurity in Rb ion-exchange is a function of the duration of excha nge and varies substantially as the impurity concentration increases. The i on-exchange of pure Rb shows a possible formation of a diffusion barrier wh ich leads to a lesser near-surface concentration as the exchange duration i ncreases. A small concentration of Ba removes this diffusion barrier. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.