Linear and nonlinear optical properties of a new organic NLO l-asparaginium l-tartarate (AST) single crystal

A new organic NLO material l-asparaginium l-tartarate (AST) was synthesized and good quality crystals were grown from aqueous solution. The solubility and metastable zone width for AST solution were determined. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to confirm structure and crystalline nature of AST crystal. Optical transmittance and second harmonic generation efficiency (SHG) of the grown crystal were studied by UV⿿vis⿿NIR spectrum and Kurtz powder technique respectively. The transmittance of AST crystal was used to calculate the refractive index (n), the extinction coefficient (k) and reflectance (R). The laser induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was measured using Nd:YAG laser.