Rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystals and hydrothermal growth thereof for use in laser and non-linear optical applications and devices
Single, acentric, rhombohedral, fluoroberyllium borate crystals of a size sufficient for use in a variety of laser and non-optical applications are formed by a hydrothermal method.
1. A rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal belonging to the R32 space group and 32 point group and having the formula MBe 2 BO 3 F 2 (MBBF) wherein M is Rb, Cs, or TI.
2. A single acentric, rhombohedral, fluoroberyllium borate crystal having the formula MBe 2 BO 3 F 2 , wherein M is Rb, Cs, or TI, belonging to the R32 space group and 32 point group.
3. The rhombohedral, fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 2 having a dimension of at least 2 mm in one direction and exhibiting non-linear optical properties.
4. A single acentric, rhombohedral, fluoroberyllium borate crystal having the formula M (1-x) M′ x Be 2 BO 3 F 2 , wherein M and M′ are differing monovalent metal ions, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Rb + , Cs + , or Tl + , and wherein M is selected from the group consisting of K + , Na + , Rb + , Cs + , Li + , Cu + , and Tl + , belonging to the R32 space group and 32 point group.
5. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , in which M is partially substituted by a monovalent metal ion.
6. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , in which M is Rb.
7. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 6 , in which Rb is partially substituted by Cs or TI.
8. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , in which M is Cs.
9. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 8 , in which Cs is partially substituted by Rb or TI.
10. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , in which M is TI.
11. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 10 , in which TI is partially substituted by Cs or Rb.
12. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , in which the crystal has a uniaxial acentric structure.
13. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 12 , in which the crystal has a band gap of less than 200 nm.
14. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , having an edge of greater than 3 millimeters.
15. The rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 , having an edge of greater than 5 millimeters.
16. A laser comprising the rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 .
17. An optoelectronic device comprising the rhombohedral fluoroberyllium borate crystal set forth in claim 1 .
18. The optoelectronic device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the optoelectronic device is a non linear optical device.
19. The optoelectronic device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the optoelectronic device is a parametric oscillator.
20. The optoelectronic device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the optoelectronic device is a frequency multiplier.
21. The optoelectronic device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the optoelectronic device is a waveguide.