DOI: 10.1063/1.1656857 ISSN:
A Powder Technique for the Evaluation of Nonlinear Optical Materials
S. K. Kurtz, T. T. Perry- General Physics and Astronomy
An experimental technique using powders is described which permits the rapid classification of materials according to
(a) magnitude of nonlinear optical coefficients relative to a crystalline quartz standard and
(b) existence or absence of phase matching direction(s) for second-harmonic generation.
Results are presented for a large number of inorganic and organic substances including single-crystal data on phase-matched second-harmonic generation in HIO3, KNbO3, PbTiO3, LiClO4·3H2O, and CO(NH2)2. Iodic acid (HIO3) has a nonlinear coefficient d14∼1.5×d31 LiNbO3. Since it is readily grown from water solution and does not exhibit optical damage effects, this material should be useful for nonlinear device applications.