Nonlinear optical properties of BaWO4 crystal

Nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption in barium tungstate crystal which is widely used in Raman lasers is studied using the single-beam z-scan technique with 1 ps laser pulses at 790 and 395 nm. The nonlinear refraction-index intensity-coefficients at these wavelengths and two-photon absorption coefficient at 395 nm have been determined for the crystal. The results show that barium tungstate is characterized by weaker nonlinear refraction and absorption at 395 nm in comparison with other Raman crystals.