Nonlinear optical properties of flux growth KTiOPO_4

The properties of large flux grown KTiOPO(4) second harmonic generators were measured. A technique which provides a sensitive assessment of crystal uniformity is described. Optically perfect second harmonic generation crystals of up to 1 cm(3) were found to have nonlinear optical properties comparable with those grown by other methods. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used to determine temperture acceptance widthlength product (20 degrees C cm), angular acceptance width-length product (13 mrad cm), and doubling efficiency (50%). Spectral bandwidth (4.5 A cm) and wavefront distortion ((1/4) wave at 633 nm) were also measured. The dependence of these properties on crystal homogeneity is demonstrated.