Optical characterizations of YCa4O(BO3)3 and Nd:YCa4O(BO3)3 crystals

We report a complete optical characterization of YCa4O(BO3)3 and Nd:YCa4O(BO3)3 crystals. We studied the relative orientation between the dielectric and the crystallographic frames as a function of the wavelength and performed accurate phase-matching angles measurements for second harmonic generation, using a single crystal cut as a sphere. We also recorded polarized luminescence spectra of Nd:YCOB along the principal axes of the dielectric frame. For both crystals, we measured the gray-tracking and the thermo-optic properties as a function of temperature and wavelength using oriented slabs. Finally, we measured all their dielectric and electro-optic coefficients, as a function of frequency and wavelength.