Features of nonlinear BBO (ẞ-BaB2O4) crystal includes wide transparency and phase matching ranges, large non-linear coefficient, high damage threshold and excellent optical homogeneity. Therefore, BBO provides an attractive solution for various non-linear optical applications like OPO, OPA, OPCPA and other. As a result of large thermal acceptance bandwidth, high damage threshold and small absorpCtion BBO well suits for frequency conversion of high peak or average power laser radiation.

BBO Features:

• Broad transparency range from 190 nm to 2.5 µm
• High optical homogeinity
• High damage threshold – 10 GW/cm² @ 1064 nm, 100 ps
• Relatively large effective SHG coefficient (about six times that of KDP)
• 410 nm – 2.5 µm phase matching range for Type I SHG
• 530 nm – 2.5 µm phase matching range for Type II SHG

BBO Applications:

• Harmonic generation of high peak power pulsed Nd doped, Ti:Sapphire, frequency doubling of dye and Alexandrite lasers
• 5HG generation of Nd:YAG lasers at 213 nm.
• Widely tunable OPO, OPA, OPCPA of both Type I and Type II phase matching

The large spectral transmission range as well as phase matching, especially in UV range, makes BBO perfectly suitable for frequency doubling of Dye, Arion and Copper vapour laser radiation, effective cascade harmonic generation (Frequency doublers, triplers, parametric amplifiers and wave mixers) of wide spread Nd:YAG as well as of Ti:Sapphire and Alexandrite laser radiation. Both angle tuned Type 1 (oo-e) and Type 2 (eo-e) of phase matching can be obtained increasing a number of advantages for different applications

Application notes:

• Recommended BBO crystal length (mm)

Available coatings:

• Multi-layer dielectric laser line, dual-band or broad-band AR coating
• Single-layer protective coatings (P-coating) to protect polished surfaces from fogging due to ambient moistur

Thin crystals for ultrafast application

Ultrathin crystals are desired for all frequency conversions below 10 fs pulses. However, due to mechanical properties of BBO, thinner than 50 µm free-standing pieces are not available. Altechna offers supported by a fused silica substrate ultrathin (starting from 5 µm) BBO crystals which helps to avoid pulse broadening.