GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF K3LI2-XNB5-CRYSTALS FORMED BY THE MU-PULLING DOWN METHOD FOR BLUE SHG APPLICATIONS(XO15+2X MICRO SINGLE)

Potassium lithium niobate (K3Li2-Nb-X(5)+O-X(15)+(2X): KLN) crystals a re difficult to grow by conventional crystal growth methods because of the distinct change of composition. Using the micro pulling down (mu- PD) method, crack-free and homogeneous KLN crystals with a length of 1 50 mm and diameters of 150, 300 and 500 mu m have been grown successfu lly. The crystals show good structural quality, single-domain structur e and an excellent second harmonic generation property. The red irradi ation of a Ti:sapphire laser and semiconductor laser diode was convert ed by mu-PD crystals to blue laser light with half wavelength.