Efficient second harmonic generation of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser radiation using LiNbO3 with 2 mol% MgO doping

Abstract

A noncritically phase-matched second harmonic generation (SHG) of 532 nm radiation from 1064 nm radiation in LiNbO3 doped with 2 mol% MgO has been investigated by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a pulse duration of 52 ns. SHG conversion efficiencies of 50% were typically achieved with a 10.3 mm long crystal and a fundamental peak-power density of 32 MW/cm(2). It was found that any optical index inhomogeneities were not induced for more than 2 h operation of SHG under the fundamental power density of 32 MW/cm(2). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.