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Damage thresholds of non-linear crystals used for optical parametric oscillators

Conference ·
OSTI ID:552176
; ;  [1]
  1. Big Sky Laser Technologies, Bozeman, MT (United States)

We report damage threshold results for Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTP) and Potassium Titanyl Arsenate (KTA) which are cut for use as non-linear crystals in non-critically phase matched optical parametric oscillators. Controlled experiments are described which shed light on the damage process in these non-linear crystals in terms of the pump, signal, and idler wavelengths. Both surface and bulk material damage morphology is described for each crystal type and for each wavelength. Both materials were evaluated with our Optical Parametric Oscillator damage test facility which operates at a wavelength of 1574 nm and our Q-switched Nd:YAG test facility which operates at a wavelength of 1064 nm. A comparison of the relative merits of these two crystal types as OPO materials is also given.

Research Organization:
International Society for Optical Engineering, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
552176
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410155--Vol.2428
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English