Growth and nonlinear optical properties of Zn-doped LiB3O5 crystals

Zn-doped LiB3O5 (LBO) single crystals with high quality were successfully grown from the Li2O-MoO3-ZnF2 ternary system by the top-seeded solution growth method. The suitable region for LBO crystal growth was investigated by growth experiments, as well as viscosity and volatility measurements, which confirmed that the optimal molar ratio of Li2O:MoO3:ZnF2 was 1:1.5:0.2. The second-harmonic generation efficiency of Zn-doped LBO crystal increased by 16% compared with that of the LBO crystals grown from the MoO3 flux. The optical homogeneity was at 10−6 cm−1. Optical absorption at the critical wavelengths of 1064 nm was measured to be 15 and 18 ppm cm−1, respectively.