Preparation and Characterization of KNbB2O6 for UV and IR Nonlinear Optical Applications

KNbB2O6 (KNB) is a new nonlinear optical material with high optical transparency, large birefringence, large nonlinear optical coefficients and is non-hygroscopic. This material is an excellent potential substitute for LBO in high average power nonlinear optical devices, like third harmonic generation of Nd:YAG and in OPO applications. Small crystals have been grown using the TSSG method, but application of the HTS growth method should produce large, high optical quality material at reasonable costs. The development of a growth technique and optimization of the solvent system will permit production of large single crystals, which offer an alternative to LBO and BBO.