Second-harmonic generation from a KBe(2) BO(3)F(2) crystal in the deep ultraviolet

Area of Science:

• Laser physics
• Nonlinear optics
• Materials science

Background:

• Generating deep-ultraviolet (UV) coherent light is crucial for various scientific applications.
• Traditional methods for deep-UV generation face challenges in efficiency and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate efficient fourth-harmonic generation (4HG) of Ti:sapphire laser systems in the deep-UV range.
• To explore the effectiveness of potassium beryllium borate fluoride (KBBF) crystal combined with a prism-coupling technique (PCT) for deep-UV coherent light production.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 10 mmx10 mm x1.2 mm KBBF crystal.
• Employed a specialized prism-coupling technique (PCT) for enhanced light interaction.
• Used a Ti:sapphire laser with 50-fs pulse duration and 1-kHz repetition rate.

Main Results:

• Achieved fourth-harmonic generation of Ti:sapphire laser systems down to 179.4 nm.
• Obtained a high conversion efficiency of 13% from 400 nm to 200 nm.
• Demonstrated measurable power output of deep-UV coherent light using the PCT and KBBF crystal.

Conclusions:

• The combination of KBBF crystal and PCT is effective for generating deep-UV coherent light.
• This technique offers a promising route for producing high-power deep-UV sources.
• The results indicate significant potential for applications requiring deep-UV radiation.