YCOB Crystal

YCOB Crystal
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Yttrium calcium borate, YCa4O(BO3)3(YCOB) crystal, is a nonlinear crystal. Its nonlinear optical coefficient is comparable to that of BBO and LBO crystals, and has stable physical and chemical properties (non-deliquescence) and good machinability.

It can be obtained in a short period by the pulling method. It has become one of the most widely studied nonlinear optical crystals. YCOB crystal has these advantages:

  • Easy growth of large single crystal with high optical quality
  • Wide light transmission band
  • Large phase-matching range
  • High damage threshold and no deliquescence

It has become a research hotspot of frequency conversion devices. Since Y can be replaced with rare earth-active ions in any ratio, the crystal has both laser and nonlinear optical properties and becomes a laser self-frequency doubling crystal. The biggest advantage of YCOB crystal is its excellent nonlinear optical absorption and can prepare large-diameter devices.

Features of YCOB Crystal:

  • High resistivity
  • The anisotropy is small
  • Small coefficient of thermal expansion
  • High-temperature acceptability
  • Less parameter luminescence
  • The laser-induced damage threshold is high

Physicochemical Properties

Crystal StructureMonoclinic, Point Groupm
Lattice Constanta=8.0770 Å, b=16.0194 Å , c=3.5308 Å ,  β=101.167º, Z=2
Melting PointAbout1510ºC
Mohs Hardness6~6.5
Density3.31 g/cm3
Thermal Conductivity2.6 W/m/K (||X), 2.33 W/m/K (||Y), 3.1 W/m/K (||Z)

Experimental Values ​​of Effective Second-order Nonlinear Optical Effects in YCOB Crystals (SHG, type I, 1.0642µm→0.5321µm)

Phase Matching Directiondeff [pm/V]
θ =90˚,Φ=35.3˚ (XY plane)0.39
θ =90˚,Φ=35˚ (XY plane)0.42
θ =31.7˚,Φ=0˚ (XZ plane)0.78
1.03
θ =148.3˚,Φ=0˚ (XZ plane)1.36
1.44
θ =65˚,Φ=36.5˚1.14
θ =65.9˚,Φ=36.5˚0.91
θ =66.3˚,Φ=143.5˚1.45
θ =67˚,Φ=143.5˚1.73
θ =66˚,Φ=145˚1.8
In YCOB crystals, the properties of DEFF include reflectors and inversion symmetry. This means that the spatial distribution of DEFF can be completely described by selecting two independent quadrants, such as (0° < θ < 90°, 0° < φ < 90°) and (0° < θ < 90°, 90° < φ < 180°). Thereafter, the DEFF value in each of the two quadrants in the (θ, φ) direction is equal to the DEFF value in the (180°-θ, 180°- φ) direction, and vice versa. For example, directions (θ = 33°, ϕ = 9°) and (θ = 147°, φ = 171°) have equal DEFF values.

Experimental Values ​​of SHG and SFG Interior Angle Bandwidths of YCOB Principal Planes

Interaction WavelengthΦpm [deg]θpm [deg]Δϕint[deg]Δθint[deg]
XY plane, θ =90◦    
          SHG, o+o ⇒ e    
1.0642⇒0.532135 0.09 
         SHG, e+o ⇒ e    
1.0642⇒0.532173.4 0.32 
          SFG, o+o ⇒ e    
1.0642+0.5321⇒0.354773.2 0.11 
YZ plane, φ =90◦    
          SHG, e+o ⇒ o    
1.0642⇒0.5321 58.7 0.74
          SFG, e+e ⇒ o    
1.0642+0.5321⇒0.3547 58.7 0.19
XZ plane, Φ=0◦,θZ    
           SHG, o+o ⇒ e    
1.0642⇒0.5321 31.7 0.08

Phase Matching Angle Experimental Value (T=293K)

Interaction Wavelength[µm]Φexp[deg]
XY plane, θ=90˚
SHG, o+o → e
1064 → 53235
738 → 36977.3
SHG, type Ⅰ, along Y
724 → 36290
SFG, o+o → e
1064+532 → 35575.2
SHG, type Ⅱ, along Y
1030 → 51590
SFG, e+o → e
1908+1064 → 68381.2

Spectrum

YCOB nonlinear crystal Amplified1 CRYLINKYCOB nonlinear crystal-Amplified2 CRYLINK
The blue line is the spectral intensity after SHG. The red line is Wizzler's phaseThe blue line is the pulse FTL shape after SHG. The red line is the shape of time Wizzler measured.
YCOB nonlinear crystal OPA CRYLINKYCOB nonlinear crystal X ray CRYLINK
OPA spectra were obtained by the first stage (black solid line) based on BBO crystals and the second stage (red solid line) based on YCOB crystals.X-ray sway curves of YCOB wafers
YCOB nonlinear crystal transmission CRYLINK
Transmission spectrum of YCOB crystal

References

[1]  Zhong D ,  Bing T ,  Kong W , et al. Effect of disordered structure and crystal defects on heat transfer behavior in Er:Yb: YCa4O(BO3)3 crystal[J]. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 2018, 124:121-129.
[2]  Tu X ,  Zheng Y ,  Xiong K , et al. Crystal growth and characterization of 4 in. YCa4O(BO3)(3) crystal[J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2014, 401(sep.1):160-163.
[3]  Segonds P ,  Boulanger B , B Ménaert, et al. Optical characterizations of YCa4O(BO3)3 and NdlYCa4O(BO3)3 crystals[J]. Optical Materials, 2007, 29(8):975-982.
[4]  Fujimoto Y ,  Yanagida T ,  Yokota Y , et al. Scintillation and optical properties of Pb-doped YCa 4O(BO 3) 3 crystals[J]. Nuclear Inst & Methods in Physics Research A, 2011, 652(1):238-241.
[5]  Goldner P ,  Guillot-No?L O ,  Higel P . Optical bistability in Yb3+:YCa4O(BO3)3 crystal[J]. Optical Materials, 2004, 26(3):281-286.
[6]  Hammons D A ,  Eichenholz J M ,  Ye Q , et al. Laser action in Yb3+: YCOB (Yb3+:YCa4O(BO3)3)[J]. Optics Communications, 1998, 156(4):327-330.
[7]  Kalidasan M ,  Kumar R A ,  Asokan K , et al. Effect of 120 MeV Au9+ ion irradiation on structural, optical and dielectric properties of YCa4O(BO3)3 nonlinear optical crystal[J]. Nuclear Inst & Methods in Physics Research B, 2012, 280(Jun.1):134-139.
[8]  A H Z ,  A H W ,  A Y W , et al. Properties of single crystal piezoelectric Ca 3 TaGa 3 Si 2 O 14 and YCa 4 O(BO 3 ) 3 resonators at high-temperature and vacuum conditions[J]. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2014, 216(3):167-175.
[9]  Ye Q ,  Chai B . Crystal growth of YCa4O(BO3)3 and its orientation[J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 1999, 197(s 1–2):228–235.
[10]  J. T , Ingle, and, et al. Combustion synthesis and optical properties of Oxy-borate phosphors YCa4O(BO3)3:RE3+ (RE=Eu3+, Tb3+) under UV, \\{VUV\\} excitation[J]. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2014, 585(1):633-636.
[11]  Shah L ,  Ye Q ,  Eichenholz J M , et al. Laser tunability in Yb 3+:YCa 4O(BO 3) 3 {Yb:YCOB}[J]. Optics Communications, 1999, 167(1-6):149-153.
[12]  Sano H ,  Matsumoto T ,  Matsumoto Y , et al. A combinatorial approach to the discovery and optimization of YCa 4O(BO 3) 3-based luminescent materials[J]. Applied Surface Science, 2006, 252(7):2493-2496.
[13]  Krishnakumar V ,  Nagalakshmi R . Polarised infrared and Raman studies of YCa4O(BO3)3 a non-linear optical single crystal[J]. Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular & Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2004, 60(12):2733-2739.
[14]  Jiang H , J Wang,  Zhang H , et al. Spectral and luminescent properties of Yb3+ ions in YCa4O(BO3)3 crystal[J]. CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS, 2002.
[15]  Jang W K ,  Ye Q ,  Eichenholz J , et al. Second harmonic generation in Yb doped YCa4O(BO3)3[J]. Optics Communications, 1998, 155(4-6):332-334.
[16]  Wang K M ,  Hui H ,  Chen F , et al. Refractive index profiles in YCa 4O(BO 3) 3 and Nd:YCa 4O(BO 3) 3 waveguides created by MeV He ions[J]. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research, 2002, 191(1):789-793.
[17] Investigation on intracavity second-harmonic generation at 1.06 μm in YCa4O(BO3)3 by using an end-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser[J]. Optics Communications, 2000.
[18]  Du C ,  Wang Z ,  Xu G , et al. Diode-end-pumped solid-state ultraviolet laser based on intracavity third-harmonic generation of 1.06mum in YCa4O(BO3)3 crystal[C]// Iumrs International Conference on Electronic Materials Iumrs-icem. 2002.

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