Optical: systems and elements – Optical frequency converter
Patent
1996-10-09
1998-02-24
Lee, John D.
Optical: systems and elements
Optical frequency converter
252584, G02F 135
Patent
active
057216347
ABSTRACT:
A family of cesium-germanium halide salts have utility as nonlinear optical crystals in applications including electro-optics and optical frequency conversion. These salts have the general formula CsGeCl.sub.x Br.sub.y I.sub.z, in which x, y, and z equal 0 through 3, inclusive, and where x+y+z=3. In contrast to well-known oxygen-containing materials, such as LiNbO.sub.3, these cesium-germanium halide salts exhibit optical nonlinearity with an extremely wide transparency range (without significant absorption) at wavelengths from about 0.4 .mu.m to greater than 25 .mu.m (covering the entire MWIR and LWIR regions). Based on Ge.sup.2+ ions, these halides have non-centrosymmetric perovskite structures. The halide ions form a strongly coordinating octahedral environment about the Ge.sup.2+ ions and resist migration in an electric field. The Ge2+ ions, however, are shifted slightly off center in the tetragonal phase, leading to a net electric dipole moment in each unit cell. The alignment of these dipole moments into ferroelectric domains can be controlled through applied electric fields. By aligning all dipole moments into a single ferroelectric domain, these cesium-germanium halides have utility for electro-optic and birefringently phase-matched frequency conversion devices. Alternately, periodic poling of the ferroelectric domains allows these materials to be used for quasi-phase-matched frequency conversion. Cesium-germanium halide salts, which can be isolated from aqueous solutions as salts of GeX.sub.3 .sup.- anions, are water-soluble, which facilitates large-aperture crystal growth.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3949323 (1976-04-01), Bierlein et al.
patent: 4370258 (1983-01-01), Ogata et al.
patent: 5379311 (1995-01-01), McFarlane et al.
Cunningham Patricia H.
Ewbank Mark D.
Gunter Peter
Rosker Mark J.
Boeing North American Inc.
Kahm Steven E.
Lee John D.
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