Abstract

One of the major aims scientists are now facing in nonlinear optical (NLO) material area is the search for new UV NLO materials, in which phase-matching below 200 nm can be achieved. On the basis of the anionic group theory, it was found that if the dangling bonds of (BO₃)^3- group are eliminated by linking with other groups, the band gap of (BO₃)^3- group can shift to as short as 150 nm. On the other hand, the (BO₃^)3- group is also favorable to produce a relatively larger birefringence and microscopic ${\chi }_{\text{ijk}}^{(2)}$ coefficients [1]. It was these novel ideas that motivated our group to make extensive efforts, which led to the successful discovery of another new UV NLO crystal — KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF).

© 1992 Optical Society of America