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Nonlinear Optics (NLO) Applications
Nonlinear Optics (NLO) Applications
SHG
Second harmonic generation (SHG; also called frequency doubling) is a nonlinear optical
process, in which photons interacting with a nonlinear material are effectively "combined" to
form new photons with twice the energy, and therefore twice the frequency and half the
wavelength of the initial photons.
It is a special case of sum frequency generation.
Today, the most SHG crystals are cut for the conversion of 1.064µm solid-state lasers into green
(532nm) but we also manufacture SHG crystals for other visible wavelenghts (red, blue, yellow)
or in the UV.
The SHG crystals we manufacture for green (527nm, 532nm) are checked on our SHG test
bench.
OPO
The main application of an OPO is to generate longer wavelengths, like pulsed lasers at aroud
1.55 µm, from a 1.064µm pump. The former wavelength lies in the eye-safe band and is
commonly used by range-finding devices.
But an OPO can also be used to generate longer wavelengths, or various wavelengths in the
visible when pumped at 355nm. Every OPO crystal we manufacture for a pump at 1.064µm and
a signal around 1.55µm is checked on our OPO test bench.
Electro-Optics
The response of electro-optical materials to an electric field is a change of their refractive index.
This effect is used in order to change the polarization state of light by applying a voltage to an
electro-optical crystal, which acts as a voltage-dependant waveplate.
In practice, this principle is used in Pockels cells where an electro-optical crystal is asociated
with a polarizer to block or to transmit light. Pockels cells are used to release pulses ("Q-switch")
from a laser resonator or to select pulses from ultrafast lasers (pulse-picker).
Pockels cells made of RTP crystals consist in two birefringence-compensated crystals that can be
provided as a pair (unmounted) or as a complete Pockels with electrodes and wires. In each case,
the electro-optical response of the component is carefully checked on our test bench.
Pockels effect, the refractive index is affected by a static electric field; used in electro-optic
modulators.
Acousto-optics, the refractive index is affected by acoustic waves (ultrasound); used
in acousto-optic modulators.
Raman scattering, interaction of photons with optical phonons.