Abstract

Organic structures exhibit large electronic second-order nonlinear optical responses. Low-power optical second harmonic generation (SHG) and parametric mixing studies are reported for phase-matched (PM) organic crystals, for example, MNA (2-methyl-4-nitroaniline). Phase-matched SHG measurements at milliwatt incident powers were performed in x-y and x-z cut MNA crystals where the x direction contains the unique polar axis of MNA. In a 2-mm long sample with an x-y cut, for example, large PM SHG was observed at 532 nm for incident Nd:YAG (1.06 μm) powers as small as 2 mW. Phase-matched SHG and parametric mixing were studied as a function of laser frequency, power, and polarization.

© 1985 Optical Society of America